SCS Joint Venture, the London tunnels team for HS2, joins Climate Group initiative ConcreteZero
5 May 2023, London – Construction joint venture SCS is the latest company to join ConcreteZero, committing to reduce emissions from concrete in its construction works today and into the future. This will boost the demand for more sustainable concrete, adding significant momentum for low emissions and ultimately net zero concrete in the UK.
ConcreteZero is a global initiative led by Climate Group in partnership with WorldGBC. It brings together pioneering businesses to drive demand for more sustainable and net zero concrete. ConcreteZero members commit to buying and using 30% low emission concrete by 2025 and 50% by 2030, with a long-term target of using 100% net zero concrete by 2050.
SCS (Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture) joins the growing group of 30 ConcreteZero members that share knowledge on solutions to tackle the emissions linked to concrete, accelerating the transition to net zero concrete through collective action.
Athina Papakosta, Sustainability and Carbon Lead, SCS said: “SCS has ambitious environmental sustainability targets and decarbonising concrete has an intrinsic part to play in achieving them in the major construction project SCS have to deliver. Joining ConcreteZero is testament to teaming up with the rest of the industry to drive the overarching goal of lower carbon concrete forward.”
SCS is building the London tunnels stretch of HS2, the UK’s new high-speed railway that will link London to the North-West, going through the country’s biggest cities: London, Birmingham and Manchester. HS2 is Europe’s largest infrastructure project, aiming to boost low carbon connectivity and enhance livelihoods in Britain.
SCS seeks to create a positive legacy for both the concrete and construction industry, looking at innovative alternatives to the use of traditional cement, the most polluting ingredient in concrete. It’s testing out new, lower carbon materials to replace cement. This is a pioneering, long-term approach for the industry as cleaner cement alternatives will be increasingly required and current sources are insufficient to meet the growing demand.
Jen Carson, Head of Industry, Climate Group, said: “SCS is leading the way in tackling the climate impact of UK infrastructure. By joining ConcreteZero it recognises that the carbon emissions linked to one of the world’s most used materials needs to be addressed head-on, and that this can be done now through a live project. SCS JV sets the bar for the future of all UK infrastructure and shows that it’s not only necessary but entirely possible to limit the carbon emissions linked to concrete today.”
Concrete is especially important as it is the world’s most used material, second only to water. Every year the production of concrete accounts for an estimated 8% of global carbon emissions, and this is only set to rise. With the UN predicting that almost 70% of global populations will live in cities by 2050, concrete will be key to meeting the growing construction demand.
