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Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance Launches

In a progressive move for the cement and concrete industry, the Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance (SCoBA) has officially launched, spearheaded by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the Center for Green Market Activation (GMA). This initiative aims to unite prominent organizations in a groundbreaking collaborative purchasing model aimed at promoting low-carbon concrete adoption for modern construction and infrastructure. Key founding members include industry giants such as Amazon, Prologis, and Meta, signaling a strong corporate commitment to sustainability.

cement and concrete play a critical role in global infrastructure but contribute notably to carbon emissions, accounting for an estimated eight percent of total emissions worldwide. As construction activities are projected to rise, addressing the carbon footprint stemming from these materials becomes increasingly urgent. The SCoBA initiative provides a platform for major buyers to collectively procure environmental attribute certificates for low-carbon cement and concrete, effectively transforming demand into actionable procurement agreements. This approach will facilitate significant investments in innovative production technologies and sustainable material blends.

Addressing Carbon Emissions in Construction

The SCoBA initiative is particularly vital as the construction industry grapples with the challenges of embodied carbon, which refers to emissions associated with the production and transportation of building materials. Traditional concrete options currently lack scalable low-carbon alternatives, making initiatives like SCoBA essential for enhancing the sustainability of future constructions.

The alliance will employ a novel book and claim mechanism, allowing member companies to purchase environmental attributes from low-carbon concrete, as well as upstream products like clinker and cement. This system not only reduces supply chain emissions but also generates supplementary revenue to support large-scale decarbonization projects targeting the construction sector.

Jon Creyts, CEO of RMI, emphasizes the economic potential inherent in the sector's decarbonization: "The cement and concrete sector's challenge presents a substantial economic opportunity. By aggregating the purchasing power of major buyers, we can create market conditions that allow groundbreaking low-carbon innovations in cement production to flourish."

Moving Towards Sustainable Solutions

As part of its strategic approach, SCoBA is set to initiate a competitive procurement process later this year, connecting its members with leading low-carbon producers. An upcoming Request for Information (RFI) has already been issued, inviting suppliers to provide details about the availability and performance of low-carbon cement and concrete products. This effort will ensure that investments align with the practical needs of the market while paving the way for enhanced environmental performance and innovation.

Kim Carnahan, GMA's President and CEO, states, "SCoBA utilizes established strategies seen in other hard-to-abate sectors, channeling combined buyer demand to reshape the concrete industry. By establishing credible frameworks, we can unlock necessary investments to accelerate next-generation solutions within one of the most emissions-intensive sectors."

The book and claim model uniquely decouples the environmental benefits from the physical distribution of products, creating flexibility in how companies approach their sustainability commitments. This market-driven approach facilitates credible emissions reduction claims, essential for industries undergoing technological transformations.

A Collaborative Framework for Change

The establishment of SCoBA follows extensive consultations involving a diverse working group of 30 experts from across the concrete value chain. This collaborative effort has resulted in a robust draft framework for the book and claim system, which will continue to evolve based on feedback and initial transactions, ensuring its integrity and effectiveness in promoting positive environmental outcomes.

Amazon’s Worldwide Operations Sustainability Director, Chris Atkins, remarks, “SCoBA signifies a fundamental shift in our approach to sustainable materials. Its innovative framework is pivotal for scaling up low-carbon concrete production, which is vital for advancing towards our net-zero objectives.”

RMI and GMA’s track records of successful projects in sectors such as Sustainable Aviation and Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform exemplify their commitment to fostering sustainable practices across high-emission industries. SCoBA seeks to harness this collective expertise to promote the adoption of low-carbon goods and services, ultimately transforming the concrete sector.

Conclusion: A Path Towards a Cleaner Future

As the demand for environmentally friendly materials escalates, initiatives like SCoBA are critical for driving receptor change within the cement and concrete industry. By incentivizing the widespread adoption of low-carbon materials, the alliance aims not only to mitigate emissions but also to contribute positively to public health and the environment. Through collaborative efforts, SCoBA is set to usher in a new era of sustainable construction practices, ultimately leading to a cleaner, greener future.

For those interested in joining SCoBA or responding to the procurement initiative, please contact [email protected] for more information. The submission deadline for responses to the initial RFI is October 17, 2025.