Concrete Carbon Footprint Estimator (per yd³)
Estimate the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of one cubic yard of concrete from cement, SCM, aggregate and water quantities. Arrive pre-filled from the mix calculator, or enter your own quantities and factors.
Quantities and factors
| Material | Quantity (lb/yd³) | Factor (kg CO2e/kg) | Range | CO2e (kg/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total CO2e per yd³ | — | |||
Fly ash and silica fume factors are especially sensitive to the allocation method used and are low confidence — check your supplier's EPD. Water's contribution is effectively negligible. Delivery (A4) covers hauling the fresh concrete from plant to site only; cement and aggregate haul to the plant is already inside the factors above, and batching-plant energy, placing, curing and end-of-life are excluded.
Carbon summary
vs 100% Type I/II baseline
| Scenario | Total CO2e (kg/yd³) |
|---|---|
| Actual mix (as entered) | — |
| 100% Type I/II baseline | — |
| Change | — kg (—) |
Strength and durability must be re-verified by trial batch — SCM changes early strength and curing, this is not a like-for-like swap.
Notes and limitations
- Indicative estimates for comparing mix options during preliminary design. Not a certified EPD, not an LCA, and not a verified A1-A3 declaration under ISO 14025 / EPD program rules.
- Cradle-to-gate (A1-A3) of constituent materials only. Excludes batching-plant energy, formwork, reinforcement, pumping/placing, curing, in-service carbonation, and end of life.
- The cement factor dominates — typically 80-95% of the total. Your supplier's actual EPD matters far more than refining aggregate numbers.
- SCM (supplementary cementitious material — fly ash, slag or silica fume used to replace part of the cement) factors are highly sensitive to allocation method; published figures can differ by an order of magnitude, hence the ranges shown.
- Check NRMCA (National Ready Mixed Concrete Association) and PCA (Portland Cement Association) current published industry-average EPDs for ready-mixed concrete by strength class, rather than relying on the defaults here.
- A lower carbon figure does not make a mix compliant — strength class, exposure/durability requirements (ACI 318/301) and early-age performance still govern.