Since 2020, SmartCrete CRC has had the privilege of leading an industry-driven, collaborative research program focused on unlocking the innovations needed to decarbonise concrete. Our diverse research portfolio spans new low-carbon concrete mix designs, innovative circular economy practices, cutting-edge design and construction methodologies such as 3D concrete printing, and advanced asset management technologies.
These projects demonstrate that the technical solutions required for decarbonisation are not only possible but already within reach. However, as we move from research to implementation and impact, it has become clear that major systemic market barriers stand in the way of widespread adoption. Unless these barriers are addressed, even the most promising innovations will remain niche rather than driving sector-wide transformation.
This insight series examines eight key market‐barriers to concrete decarbonisation. Each paper dives deep into one barrier, unpacking its root causes, real-world implications, and the opportunities for industry, government, and researchers to work together in overcoming it.
Concrete involves many stakeholders—producers, transporters, specifiers, contractors—and risk is often unclear or unequally borne. Without shared risk frameworks, uptake of new materials or methods is discouraged.
Different rules, standards, and requirements across jurisdictions and clients make scale difficult; inconsistent or prescriptive procurement is a major hurdle to widespread adoption of low-carbon options.
While engineers and researchers may be well-informed, many decision makers—clients, tradespeople, specifiers—are not. This asymmetry limits demand for, and effective use of, low-carbon technologies.
Traditional testing regimes, long testing periods, and protocols designed for older materials mean new materials are delayed or blocked. We need accelerated, fit-for-purpose testing aligned with decarbonisation timelines.
Cement and concrete are capital intensive sectors. Changing cement manufacturing processes, concrete mix design and batching practices, adding novel binders, additives and alternative processes often require high capital investment and upfront cost. Without mechanisms to de-risk investment (e.g. through clear market signals, government support or incentives), many promising innovations remain small‐scale.
Regulatory frameworks sometimes operate at cross purposes, supporting government priorities in one area, while restricting opportunities in another. Evidence-based, harmonised policy and legislation is required to provide a market environment that accelerates decarbonisation.
Current carbon tracking frameworks often fail to reward low-carbon concrete usage beyond cement plant emissions. There is limited recognition or reward in procurement, credits, or carbon offsetting for downstream emission reductions.
Australia’s size and regional diversity mean that access to low-carbon materials varies greatly. Some regions lack supply of supplementary cementitious materials or alternative binders, making nationwide decarbonisation uneven.
These barriers do not operate in isolation. For example:
To succeed, strategies must be systemic—not one barrier at a time.
While the challenges are many, there are clear levers that could unlock progress:
Each paper in this series dives into one of the 8 barriers. For each, you’ll find:
Use them as a menu: pick the barriers most relevant to your context, or read them all for a holistic picture.
If Australia is to meet its climate goals, decarbonisation of concrete—ubiquitous and foundational in our built environment—cannot lag. The solutions exist. What’s needed now is coordinated action: policy, procurement, investment, and mindset. We must collectively build a concrete ecosystem where sustainability is the easy—or even better—the obvious choice. Shifting the question from, Is this possible? to What would make this possible and how do we do it?
