For decades, the fundamentals of how concrete is designed, tested, and produced have remained largely the same. Strength, durability, availability, and cost have always driven decisions — and for good reason.
But right now, a lot of small shifts are stacking up and together, they’re changing how concrete is specified, evaluated, and selected on projects.
Low-carbon concrete, sustainability requirements, EPDs, and carbon reporting are no longer side conversations. They’re becoming part of everyday work for producers, often before the industry has had time to fully align on standards or expectations.
This isn’t about a single regulation or trend. It’s about how the market for concrete is evolving as a whole.
Concrete Is Being Evaluated Differently Than It Was Five Years Ago
Historically, concrete decisions came down to:
- Performance
- Availability
- Cost
- Schedule
Those still matter, but they’re no longer the only criteria. Today, producers are increasingly seeing:
- Embodied carbon limits written into specs
- Requests for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) during bidding
- Sustainability language included even on projects without formal carbon targets
- Owners comparing mixes based on carbon data alongside strength and price
This is happening across commercial, infrastructure, data center, and public-sector projects — not just niche developments.
Low-Carbon Concrete Is Moving From “Optional” to “Expected”
In many regions, low-carbon concrete started as a pilot effort or a checkbox for progressive owners. That’s changing. Producers are now encountering:
- Carbon thresholds tied to procurement programs
- State and municipal policies influencing material selection
- LEED v5 and Buy Clean discussions shaping future project requirements
- ACI sustainability guidance beginning to influence performance expectations
Even when requirements are inconsistent or poorly defined, the direction is clear: carbon is becoming part of how concrete is judged.
How This Is Already Affecting Real Projects
On the ground, this shows up in practical ways:
- Estimators navigating unfamiliar carbon documentation
- Technical services teams fielding last-minute EPD requests
- Sales teams needing to explain sustainability claims without oversimplifying
- Producers weighing risk when specs push carbon targets without clear guardrails
The challenge isn’t resistance — it’s uncertainty. Most producers want to do the right thing, but don’t want to compromise performance, margins, or reliability.
Why the Industry Needs to Come Together Now
What’s missing isn’t effort, it’s alignment. Right now:
- Requirements are evolving faster than shared guidance
- Producers are solving similar problems in isolation
- Owners and designers often lack visibility into plant-level realities
The next phase of concrete sustainability won’t be driven by theory. It will be driven by practical, shared understanding across producers, designers, contractors, and owners.
That’s why open, industry-wide conversations matter. Not to sell solutions, but to build clarity around what’s realistic, what’s coming, and how to prepare.
Introducing The Future of Concrete — 2026 Webinar Series
To support those conversations, we’re hosting The Future of Concrete, a monthly webinar series focused on how low-carbon concrete, sustainability, EPDs, and carbon reporting are reshaping the industry.
Each session tackles one part of the picture — from policy and specifications to plant-level decisions and project performance — with a focus on what producers need to know now.
Below is the 2026 session lineup, with topics and descriptions.
2026 Webinar Sessions
Sustainable Concrete 2026 — The Market Shift Every Producer Must Understand | January 21
An overview of the market and regulatory forces shaping concrete in 2026, how low-carbon demand is affecting specs, pricing, and bidding, and what producers can do now to reduce risk and stay competitive.
The 2026 Policy Landscape — State Carbon Rules, ACI Updates & National Sustainability | February 11
A practical look at the programs influencing concrete specifications, including ACI sustainability updates, LEED v5, Buy Clean, CALGreen, and state-level embodied carbon rules — and how these requirements show up in real bids.
LEED v5, PCR & ACI Changes — What Concrete Producers Must Submit in 2026 | March 11
What’s changing in LEED v5 documentation, Product Category Rules (PCRs), and ACI performance expectations — and how these changes affect existing EPDs and future submissions.
EPDs That Win Work — What Owners Actually Look For | April 8
How owners, GCs, and public agencies evaluate EPDs in qualification packages and bids, why transparency matters, and how producers are already winning work with strong EPD strategies.
Plant-Level Carbon Targets — How Producers Hit 20%, 30% & 40% Reduction Goals | May 13
What plant-level reduction targets look like in practice, how to set achievable goals, and mix optimization strategies that support carbon reduction without disrupting production.
De-Risking Lower-Carbon Concrete — Innovation, Leadership & the Value Proposition | June 10
When producers can charge a premium, how low-carbon mixes influence win rates, and how developers and engineers evaluate risk and value in lower-carbon concrete strategies.
The Performance Question — Making Low-Carbon Mixes That Still Perform | July 8
Addressing early strength, durability, cracking, and finishability concerns, and how producers can lower cement content while remaining compliant with ACI performance standards.
Mix Optimization Deep Dive — Gradation, SCM Strategies & Quantifying Carbon | August 12
A technical deep dive into cement reduction through aggregate gradation, SCM strategies in constrained markets, and how to quantify real carbon savings.
Innovations in Low-Carbon Concrete — What’s Real vs. What’s Coming | September 9
An honest look at CCUS, LC³, recycled aggregates, geopolymers, and novel SCMs — what’s deployable today, what’s still experimental, and realistic adoption timelines.
Communicating Sustainability Without Losing the Room | October 14
How producers can talk about low-carbon concrete with architects, engineers, and contractors — addressing skepticism, myths, and cost concerns without overpromising.
Concrete Sustainability Excellence | November 11
What excellence looks like across the value chain in 2026 — materials, specs, coordination practices, and real project examples that deliver low-GWP outcomes without sacrificing performance or schedule.
Designing With Low-Carbon Concrete — What Designers Need to Know for 2027 | December 9
How architects and engineers can confidently specify low-carbon concrete, what producers can realistically deliver, and how early alignment reduces risk for everyone involved.
Staying Engaged Throughout the Year
The changes affecting concrete aren’t limited to one project or one region. They’re part of a broader shift that will continue to evolve through 2026 and beyond. To keep up throughout the year:
👉 Sign up for the Future of Concrete webinar series to participate in the conversations shaping the industry.
📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for practical insights and upcoming sessions
🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn for ongoing discussion, updates, and real-world examples
The future of concrete is being shaped right now: by the questions producers are asking and the decisions they’re making every day. Join us as we pave the way for generations to come.
