Indirect greenhouse gas emissions: Construction
The GC is committed to reducing the environmental impact of construction materials and design. Effective , the Standard on Embodied Carbon in Construction (the Standard) under the Policy on Green Procurement came into force with requirements related to the carbon footprint (Scope 3 emissions) of ready-mixed concrete. All federal construction projects valued at $5 million or more using 100 cubic metres or more of ready-mixed concrete are to require service providers to disclose the carbon footprint of the ready-mixed concrete used. The concrete must also demonstrate an embodied carbon reduction of at least 10% compared to the regional industry average.
In 2024–25, the embodied carbon of the ready-mix concrete used in one qualifying major construction project subject to the standard was reduced by 21% relative to the project baseline. The corresponding difference between the embodied carbon of the concrete used and the average embodied carbon of the concrete available in the region was 31 tCO2e. The Standard applies to projects that are initiated after its requirements came into force, and results are reported upon project completion. Since construction projects have long lead times, the number reporting is small but will gradually increase in the coming years.
21%
2024–25 embodied carbon reduction of the ready-mix concrete used in one qualifying major construction project subject to the standard, relative to the project baseline
31 t CO2e
2024-25 reduction of embodied carbon of concrete used relative to the average available in the region
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