By Michael Kilgariff, CEO Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia
As Australia strives for net zero emissions, the heavy construction materials industry has an important role to play in this transition.
Australia’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions has never been more critical. In 2022, the Federal Government legislated targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and reduce emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. The government’s Net Zero Plan will outline the nation’s strategic direction, supported by sectoral emissions reduction plans that cover electricity and energy, transport, industry, agriculture and land, resources, and the built environment.
Among these sectors, transport is poised to become Australia’s highest emitter by 2030 if no further action is taken. To address this, the government is developing the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan. This roadmap will be pivotal in guiding the country’s transition to a net zero economy, consistent with international and domestic commitments.
Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA), representing the heavy construction materials industry, welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this vital national conversation. Our industry plays a critical role in building and maintaining the infrastructure that underpins Australia’s economy and society. As such, the decarbonisation of our sector is crucial to achieving Australia’s net zero goals.
Industry snapshot
The heavy construction materials industry in Australia is a cornerstone of the nation’s infrastructure development. CCAA members operate cement manufacturing facilities, concrete batching plants and quarries that supply the essential materials used in construction across the country. Our industry generates approximately $15 billion in annual revenues and employs around 110,000 Australians, both directly and indirectly.
Cement, concrete and aggregates are the building blocks of Australia’s infrastructure. They are used in everything from roads and bridges to residential and commercial buildings. As the demand for infrastructure continues to grow, particularly with Australia’s expanding population and urbanisation, the need to produce these materials sustainably has become increasingly urgent.
Decarbonising the heavy construction materials industry presents significant challenges, but it also offers substantial opportunities for innovation and leadership.
The Australian cement and concrete sector has a long history of reducing its CO2 emissions having delivered a 25 per cent reduction since 2000.
Notwithstanding, the sector understands the challenge of decarbonising by 2050, and that the production of cement, one of the key components of concrete, is inherently carbon intensive.
The chemical process of producing clinker, the main ingredient in cement, releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide, known as process emissions. These emissions are independent of the fuel used in the manufacturing process, making them particularly challenging to abate.
Aggregates, another key ingredient in concrete, are also associated with carbon emissions, particularly due to the transportation of these materials from quarries to construction sites. As quarries are increasingly located further from high-demand urban centres, the carbon footprint of transporting aggregates is growing.
Despite these challenges, the industry is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. In 2021, the Cement and Concrete Industry declared its ambition to deliver net zero carbon cement and concrete by 2050. This commitment is outlined in the Decarbonisation Pathways for the Australian Cement and Concrete Sector report, which identifies key strategies for reducing emissions across the sector.
Strategic recommendations for decarbonisation
CCAA’s submission to the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap outlines strategic recommendations aimed at facilitating the decarbonisation of the heavy construction materials industry. These recommendations are designed to align with the broader goals of the Net Zero Plan and ensure that the industry can contribute meaningfully to Australia’s climate commitments.
1. Adopting a whole-of-life carbon approach
To accurately represent the carbon footprint of infrastructure projects, CCAA recommends that all government projects adopt a whole-of-life approach to planning, design and carbon estimates. This approach is akin to whole-of-life financial accounting and ensures that the full carbon impact of a project, from material extraction to end-of-life disposal, is considered.
2. Revising standards to facilitate decarbonisation
The Federal Government should encourage state and territory jurisdictions to support the redesign of standards that facilitate decarbonisation. For example, changes to AS3972-2010 (General Purpose and blended cements) are necessary to enable the adoption of lower-carbon cement alternatives. Without such changes, the decarbonisation of transport infrastructure will be limited by outdated standards.
3. Fast-tracking the adoption of global best practices
CCAA urges the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers to mandate the fast-tracking of standards and specification changes by adopting best practices from the US and Europe. These regions have made significant strides in decarbonising their construction industries, and Australia can benefit from their experience.
4. Promoting material efficiency and low-carbon concrete
Governments should promote the design of infrastructure with a clear focus on material efficiency. This includes specifying lower-carbon concrete and adopting construction technologies that reduce material waste. Such measures will not only reduce carbon emissions but also enhance the sustainability of infrastructure projects.
5. Increasing the use of supplementary cementitious materials
State and territory governments should work towards performance-based specifications that promote the greater uptake of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) such as fly ash and blast furnace slag. These materials can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of concrete without compromising its performance.
6. Supporting the development of environmental product declarations (EPDs)
The Federal Government should introduce a national grant program, similar to the US Governments’ Environmental Protection Agency scheme, to support businesses in developing and verifying Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). EPDs provide transparent information about the environmental impact of materials and are essential for driving demand for low-carbon products.
7. Providing training on lower-carbon concrete
Governments should provide training and information across the supply chain on how to use lower-carbon concrete. As these concretes do not respond exactly the same as traditional concretes, there is often resistance from project managers and contractors. Training can help overcome these barriers and ensure that specified low-carbon concretes are used.
8. Incentivising carbon targets in infrastructure projects
The Federal Government should financially incentivise state and territory governments to meet carbon targets for federally funded infrastructure projects. This would discourage the substitution of higher-carbon concretes and ensure that infrastructure projects contribute to Australia’s net zero goals.
9. Promoting successful low-carbon projects
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, in conjunction with state counterparts, should promote case studies of projects that have successfully used lower-carbon cements, concretes and recycled materials. Sharing these success stories can inspire wider adoption of sustainable practices across the industry.
10. Measuring construction and demolition waste
Government agencies should measure more categories of construction and demolition waste sent to landfill. This data is crucial for understanding the amount of concrete being disposed of rather than reused or recycled, and for developing strategies to increase material recovery.
11. Transport infrastructure and heavy vehicles
The decarbonisation of transport infrastructure is inextricably linked to the heavy vehicles that deliver construction materials to sites. With approximately 100,000 heavy vehicle movements in Australia per day related to the heavy construction materials industry, transitioning these vehicles to zero emissions is critical.
However, this transition poses significant challenges. The availability of zero-emission heavy vehicles (ZEVs) that can legally operate on Australian roads and be efficiently refuelled is limited. Moreover, the heavy construction materials industry requires access to every residential street and country road, necessitating infrastructure upgrades to accommodate heavier ZEVs.
Interim solutions, such as the use of biodiesel, which can deliver up to a 60 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, should be considered as part of the transition strategy. CCAA’s recommendations include identifying the extent of infrastructure upgrades needed to support ZEVs, developing policy settings for heavier zero-emission vehicles, and rolling out refuelling infrastructure.
Images: CCAA
The way forward
Australia’s heavy construction materials industry is at a critical juncture. The decisions made today will shape the sustainability of the nation’s infrastructure for decades to come. CCAA is committed to working with government, industry and other stakeholders to achieve the shared goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
The path to decarbonisation is complex and requires a multifaceted approach. By adopting a whole-of-life carbon approach, revising standards, promoting material efficiency and supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles, Australia can build the sustainable infrastructure needed to support a thriving, low-carbon economy.
The heavy construction materials industry, represented by CCAA, is ready to lead the way. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient Australia that meets the challenges of the 21st century while preserving our environment for future generations.
