As the building and construction industry shifts toward sustainability, reducing embodied carbon has become critical. Allied Concrete is proud to contribute to this shift through their low-carbon concrete product, Ecrete, and their innovative service, EPD On-Demand, which provides architects and builders with the tools they need to design and deliver eco-friendly buildings.

Ecrete: Reducing embodied carbon in construction

Ecrete helps reduce the embodied carbon of construction projects. Unlike traditional concrete mixes, Ecrete has a significantly lower carbon footprint without sacrificing performance. It addresses MBIE’s focus areas by reducing the whole-of-life embodied carbon of buildings, contributing to New Zealand's emissions reduction goals.

A recent example of Ecrete in action is Allied Concrete's collaboration on the Banbury Park Retirement Village, led by BMC in partnership with Qestral. This project, which began in May 2024, focuses on building retirement villages that offer high-quality living for New Zealand’s aged-care sector while embracing sustainability. BMC’s goal of "Building a brighter future for the providers of the aged-care sector across New Zealand" aligns with Allied Concrete's commitment to reducing embodied carbon.

At Banbury Park, BMC has used Ecrete, designed to reduce the embodied carbon of concrete. This has allowed the project to meet the sustainability goals of both BMC and Qestral while maintaining the durability required for a long-term facility like a retirement village. By using Ecrete, Banbury Park demonstrates how low-carbon solutions can be integrated into large-scale construction projects.

EPD On-Demand: Project-specific environmental transparency

While Ecrete plays a critical role in reducing carbon emissions, Allied Concrete goes further with its EPD On-Demand service. This service offers architects access to project-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), providing accurate data on the environmental impact of their specific concrete mix. EPD On-Demand gives detailed insights into the embodied carbon of Ecrete, enabling better decision-making and clearer communication with stakeholders.

Creating a circular economy and reducing waste

In addition to minimising carbon emissions, Ecrete supports circular economy principles. Allied Concrete’s production processes minimise waste and encourage sustainable construction practices. EPD On-Demand ensures that credible carbon data is available across all life-cycle stages (LCA modules A-D).

By offering solutions like Ecrete and EPD On-Demand, Allied Concrete is helping architects and builders meet the emissions reduction goals of today but also laying the foundation for the low-carbon buildings of tomorrow.