PROJECT. COLLABORATION. INNOVATION.

The sole dependence of the Irish construction industry on high-clinker Portland cements is delaying the adoption of sustainablepractices. In addition, the excessive utilization of these cements in concrete makes the construction sector a primary contributor to ournational carbon emissions. These cements have a high embodied carbon and there is an imperative to use significantly lower clinker contents.

The Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment have this week (28-05-2024) introduced a requirement for a minimum of 30%reduction in clinker content for public projects. In this context there is a clear need for more sustainable concrete binders, but the routeto market for such products is unclear, as standards are based around “traditional” cement products.

 This project focuses on developing a performance framework for evaluating innovative low-clinker cements. The primary concernlies with the absence of a systematic framework in Ireland for new materials. This stifles innovation and maintains the high carbonstatus quo. This project proposes to develop a comprehensive evaluation framework, the Green Binder Ireland 3050 (GBI3050) system, and will provide a clear methodology for evaluating innovative cements. This will be based on the current international stateof the art, and include guidelines, testing methods, and economic and environmental evaluations.

 A comprehensive framework that supports the development of low clinker cements would be the key outcome of the project. Thiswould promote more sustainable construction practices and support Ireland’s climate action goals of 2030 and 2050.