Concrete Carbon Impact Estimator (per m³)
Indicative cradle-to-gate (A1–A3) carbon estimate for one cubic metre of concrete, using BS 8500/EN 197-1 cement notation. Enter quantities (or arrive from the calculator pre-filled) and adjust the emission factors to match your supplier's EPD.
Quantities and factors
| Material | Quantity (kg/m³) | Factor (kg CO₂e/kg) | kg CO₂e/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (materials, A1–A3) | — | ||
Carbon summary
Vs 100% CEM I baseline
| Basis | kg CO₂e/m³ |
|---|---|
| Your mix | — |
| 100% CEM I baseline | — |
| Difference | — |
| Difference (%) | — |
Notes and limitations
Indicative estimates for comparing mix options during preliminary design. This is not a certified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD — a manufacturer's verified environmental data sheet), not a full life-cycle assessment (LCA), and not a verified A1–A3 declaration under EN 15804/ISO 14025.
Figures cover cradle-to-gate (A1–A3, i.e. raw material supply, transport to the cement/aggregate producer and manufacture) of the constituent materials only. They exclude batching-plant energy, formwork, reinforcement, pumping/placing, curing, in-service carbonation uptake (CO₂ concrete reabsorbs from the air over its life) and end of life.
The cement factor dominates — typically 80–95% of the total. Your supplier's actual EPD matters far more than refining the aggregate figures.
SCM (supplementary cementitious material, e.g. GGBS or PFA) factors are highly sensitive to the allocation method used to attribute emissions to a by-product; published figures can differ by an order of magnitude, hence the wide ranges shown.
Check the current published figure — the MPA/BRMCA UK factsheet and the ICE Database — rather than relying on the defaults here.
A lower carbon figure does not make a mix compliant. Strength class, exposure/durability limits (BS 8500/EN 206) and early-age performance still govern the design.