Key Takeaways
- • UK ready-mixed concrete embodied carbon increased by approximately 1% in 2025 to 242 kgCO₂e/m³, contradicting the headline claim of a 5% drop; the 2025 LCCG Market Benchmark represents data from 56% of UK ready-mixed concrete production in 2024, providing robust market coverage.
- • The boundary line between LCCG-1 mixes and Market Beating mixes widened across all strength classes in 2025, representing a significant structural shift in concrete carbon classification within the year.
- • The 2025 update was developed by a sub-group led by Helen McGarry (Design ID Consulting Limited), Aneeta Mary Joseph (Mott MacDonald), and Simon Perks (AtkinsRéalis), with data sourced from the Mineral Products Association and supplemented by ConcreteZero (The Climate Group).
- • The LCCG Market Benchmark now represents its fourth iteration and is positioned as one of the most robust global data points for benchmarking embodied carbon in concrete, critical for stakeholders reducing carbon footprint in UK construction.
Summary
The 2025 LCCG Market Benchmark update reveals a mixed picture for UK concrete embodied carbon performance. Contrary to the headline assertion, the aggregated mean embodied carbon of concrete mixes increased slightly from 239 kgCO₂e/m³ in 2024 to 242 kgCO₂e/m³ in 2025—representing a 1% rise rather than a decline. This represents an important distinction for investors and construction stakeholders tracking decarbonization progress in the sector.
The benchmark is based on comprehensive market data covering approximately 56% of ready-mixed concrete produced in the UK in 2024, making it one of the most substantial datasets available globally for concrete carbon assessment. This expanded data collection was led by a technical sub-group including Helen McGarry of Design ID Consulting Limited, Aneeta Mary Joseph of Mott MacDonald, and Simon Perks of AtkinsRéalis, with support from Expedition Engineering Ltd. Data was sourced from the Mineral Products Association and supplemented by ConcreteZero via The Climate Group.
A significant structural development emerged in the 2025 update: the boundary line between LCCG-1 mixes and Market Beating mixes increased across all strength classes. This shift indicates tightening performance differentials within the carbon classification scheme and reflects evolving market dynamics in low-carbon concrete adoption. The LCCG Market Benchmark has now reached its fourth iteration, establishing itself as a critical reference point for the UK construction industry and a mechanism for rating embodied carbon across ready-mixed and precast concrete products in active use.
For institutional investors and project stakeholders committed to embodied carbon reduction, the benchmark serves as an authoritative standard for assessing concrete specifications and tracking sector-wide decarbonization trends. The slight aggregate increase in embodied carbon, coupled with structural changes in classification boundaries, suggests the market is experiencing transition dynamics that warrant close monitoring as UK construction moves toward net-zero targets.
The benchmark is based on comprehensive market data covering approximately 56% of ready-mixed concrete produced in the UK in 2024, making it one of the most substantial datasets available globally for concrete carbon assessment. This expanded data collection was led by a technical sub-group including Helen McGarry of Design ID Consulting Limited, Aneeta Mary Joseph of Mott MacDonald, and Simon Perks of AtkinsRéalis, with support from Expedition Engineering Ltd. Data was sourced from the Mineral Products Association and supplemented by ConcreteZero via The Climate Group.
A significant structural development emerged in the 2025 update: the boundary line between LCCG-1 mixes and Market Beating mixes increased across all strength classes. This shift indicates tightening performance differentials within the carbon classification scheme and reflects evolving market dynamics in low-carbon concrete adoption. The LCCG Market Benchmark has now reached its fourth iteration, establishing itself as a critical reference point for the UK construction industry and a mechanism for rating embodied carbon across ready-mixed and precast concrete products in active use.
For institutional investors and project stakeholders committed to embodied carbon reduction, the benchmark serves as an authoritative standard for assessing concrete specifications and tracking sector-wide decarbonization trends. The slight aggregate increase in embodied carbon, coupled with structural changes in classification boundaries, suggests the market is experiencing transition dynamics that warrant close monitoring as UK construction moves toward net-zero targets.
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