First market-wide carbon benchmark for concrete launched in Singapore

Decarbonising Asia’s construction sector opens new opportunities for low-carbon materials, with Singapore launching its first comprehensive market benchmark for concrete carbon measurement. Developed by Climate Group’s ConcreteZero initiative with CapitaLand Development, this benchmark, Concrete Data for Concrete Action, enables industry players to identify and select lower-carbon concrete, accelerating decarbonisation and strengthening supply chain cohesion in reducing material emissions.

By improving transparency, the benchmark empowers developers and construction firms to make informed decisions, while equipping policymakers with additional data to support standards across public and private projects. This is critical as the built environment accounts for nearly 40% of global CO₂ emissions, with materials and construction responsible for about 11%. Concrete alone contributes 8% of global emissions, with 14 billion cubic metres produced annually.

Given that Singapore imports most of its construction materials, the benchmark’s relevance extends beyond the city-state, supporting the wider Asian supply chain’s transition toward sustainable development. The report draws on established frameworks from the UK and Australia, adapted for Singapore’s market to ensure internationally robust and regionally relevant data.

Read the full report here.