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Cement, Concrete & Concrete Products (CCCPv1.0iii-2017)

Standards
  • Status:
    Current
  • Issue Date:
    November 30, 2021
  • Green Star Applicable
    Green Star is Australia's trusted mark of quality for the design, construction and operation of sustainable buildings, fitouts and communities. Choosing Green Star can help you save money, create a healthy place for people, minimise your environmental footprint and build a better future for us all.

Concrete is a versatile building material made of cement, sand, aggregates, water and admixtures. Cement is the ‘glue’ which binds the ingredients of concrete together. Due to its properties of strength, durability, affordability, and the availability of raw materials, concrete is a popular choice for many building projects.

In fact, concrete is the most-used building material in the world. According to the International Energy Agency’s Technology Roadmap, global cement production is predicted to grow by 12‑23% by 2050.

However, the impacts of cement and concrete production on people and planet can be significant. For example, significant environmental loads stem from the sourcing and manufacturing phase in the life cycle, such as sourcing of raw materials, water and energy usage, and release of CO2.

Improper extraction of raw materials such as sand, for example, can lead to the destruction of coastal and riverine ecosystems. Damage to these natural environments can result in removing vital ecosystem services such as flood control and water purification. Large volumes of concrete in our cities can also contribute to the heat-island effect, raising temperatures in urban areas.

Each year, more than 4 billion tonnes of cement are produced, accounting for around 8% of global CO2 emissions. Over half of these emissions are linked to the process for producing clinker, one of the main ingredients in cement. To bring the cement sector in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, its annual emissions will need to fall by at least 16% by 2030.

In 2012, a study found that concrete production was responsible for 9% of global industrial water withdrawals, and predicted that by 2050, 75% of the water demand for concrete production would likely occur in regions expected to experience water stress.

Recent sustainable initiatives aim to improve cement and concrete production and composition and lessen its environmental impact. The GECA standard seeks to support and reward these efforts to minimise cement and concrete products’ impacts.

Products certified under this standard can also contribute toward achieving credit points for projects being certified under the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star Performance tool. In addition, our standard is also recognised by the ISC IS rating scheme.

The standard sets requirements that aim to provide a benefit by:

• reducing the impacts of raw material sourcing

• restricting carbon emissions

• preventing the use of specific hazardous materials and toxic heavy metals such as known carcinogens and mutagens

• requiring efficient waste management

• encouraging recovery, reuse, recycling and responsible disposal of materials and packaging

• ensuring workers and suppliers through the supply chain can expect fair pay, equal opportunity, and a safe working environment

Latest News

New CSIRO Report Reveals Australia’s Material Use and Circular Rate

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has released a new report on the country’s material use, highlighting opportunities to transition to a more circular and sustainable economy.

Read More See all news
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Certified Products by Cement, Concrete & Concrete Products (CCCPv1.0iii-2017)

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Green Star is Australia's trusted mark of quality for the design, construction and operation of sustainable buildings, fitouts and communities. Choosing Green Star can help you save money, create a healthy place for people, minimise your environmental footprint and build a better future for us all.
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What our clients say about us

Clients say it’s GECA or nothing. If you don’t have GECA certification it’s a negative. GECA certification is a priority for Haworth.

John Stamoulos
HAWORTH

GECA is seen by major clients across Australia and internationally to be a credible organisation that provides certification to forward thinking companies that seek to maintain and further environmental standards. Envirofluid is glad to be associated with the GECA label”.

Lydia Ohlmeyer, Marketing and Operations Manager
ENVIROFLUID

Being an environmentally aware business, we needed a way to ensure, adhere and implement sustainably preferable strategies into our business plan. The team at GECA is co-operative and their guidance ensured that we not only complied with green standards, but exceeded them. The process is credible and well-received in the market place and ensures that we are set apart from the not-so-genuine ‘greenwashing’ companies.

Donna McMullen, Director 
DIRECT ERGONOMICS

Having GECA certification gives added credibility to our already strong Europlank brand. The GECA ecolabel confirms that Havwoods Europlank has been rigorously assessed for its impact over its life cycle and it is safer for our clients, their families and colleagues. When you choose Havwoods GECA certified Europlank you can have confidence in the environmental and health claims of this product range.

David Hickson, General Manager
HAVWOODS

GBCA Green Star projects are a fantastic way of promoting environmentally aware developments that benefit all parties involved. Jardan is committed to the advertisement of eco-labelling as a means of encouraging sustainable practice,

Andy Collins, Design Assistant
JARDAN

To discuss getting your product GECA certified, get in touch with us now.

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