Blended Cements: Successful Implementation for Lower-Carbon Concrete

Concrete is a carbon-efficient and resilient building material that will remain a vital component of our built environment as we face increasing threats from natural disasters in the years to come. Concrete structures are often the only structures left standing following destructive weather events. The cement and concrete industries intend to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. An important strategy to achieve this goal is the widespread adoption and use of blended cements and supplementary cementitious materials. Blended cements offer an up-front reduction in embodied carbon as a starting point for all concrete mixtures while retaining the opportunity for further carbon reduction using existing and new strategies.

Knowledge, communication, and collaboration across the project team of suppliers, producers, contractors, owners, and trade subcontractors will ensure success in both performance and carbon goals. In this panel session, attendees will learn the technical basics of blended cements from a material producer, specification guidance from a structural engineer, and lessons learned in practice from a concrete contractor. The session will educate on currently available options to reduce carbon on concrete projects and deliver insights from an expert panel through shared best practices, technical information, and case studies. The interactive session will provide attendees with an opportunity for Q&A.

• Understand the 5 links of the cement industry’s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality.
• Describe the fundamental differences between a blended cement and portland cement.
• Discover what innovative materials are likely to become mainstream for use on upcoming projects.
• Identify opportunities for carbon reduction in a concrete specification.