Paving the way for low-emissions cement and concrete

Concrete is the backbone of the modern built environment. From homes and hospitals to roads and renewable energy infrastructure, it underpins economic development worldwide. Yet this essential material comes at a high climate cost: concrete production accounts for roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, and demand is projected to rise significantly by 2050. 

Most of concrete’s carbon footprint stems from cement — specifically clinker, the heat-intensive binding component that can represent up to 90% of the material’s embodied emissions. Decarbonizing concrete will require action at every stage of production, from improving kiln efficiency and switching fuels to scaling supplementary cementitious materials and advancing novel chemistries. While low-emissions solutions are commercially available today, supply remains limited and unable to meet the growing demand for low-emissions construction materials, and producers face high capital costs to build and retrofit facilities for low-carbon cement and concrete. To unlock investment at scale, they need credible, aggregated demand signals that demonstrate a durable market for low-emissions products. 

To address this gap, RMI and the Center for Green Market Activation (GMA) have partnered to launch the Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance (SCoBA) — a demand platform that aggregates purchasing commitments from leading end-use customers. By channeling collective demand into structured procurement and real offtake agreements, SCoBA provides producers with the confidence to invest in next-generation production capacity. 

About the Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance 

The Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance (SCoBA) was launched in 2025 by RMI and the Center for Green Market Activation to accelerate decarbonization in the cement and concrete sector. SCoBA brings together leading purchasers to send a unified demand signal that catalyzes investment in low-carbon cement and concrete production. Through coordinated procurement of both physical product and environmental attribute certificates, the alliance translates collective buyer interest into real market commitments, enabling producers to invest with confidence in next-generation materials and facilities. 

At the core of SCoBA’s approach is an innovative book and claim system that decouples verified emissions reductions from the physical delivery of materials. This mechanism allows buyers to support low-carbon production regardless of where concrete is manufactured or used, expanding access to sustainable building materials even amid geographically complex supply chains. By standardizing how the environmental benefits of low-carbon cement and concrete are measured, claimed, and traded, SCoBA helps lower the risk profile for suppliers and unlocks new revenue streams that reduce the financial barriers to decarbonization. 

Building on lessons from other buyer alliances in heavy industry sectors, SCoBA is now engaging suppliers, buyers, and stakeholders across the value chain to refine its framework and launch coordinated procurement efforts. By aggregating demand and aligning procurement strategies, the alliance aims to accelerate the adoption of sustainable concrete solutions and drive measurable emissions reductions in buildings and infrastructure. 

For Prospective Buyers 

The transition to low-emissions cement and concrete depends on ambitious buyers acting together. Through the Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance, your company can join leading organizations driving collective demand and accelerating market transformation. 

For Prospective Suppliers 

SCoBA will periodically launch requests for proposal (RFPs) and will share additional details with prospective suppliers at the time of launch. RFPs will be open to producers and relevant value chain partners capable of delivering low-emissions solutions. RMI and GMA will issue each RFP on behalf of SCoBA, and all suppliers that meet the defined qualification criteria will be invited to submit a proposal. 

Responses to the RFP will be evaluated based on alignment with SCoBA members’ aggregated volume demand and embodied carbon performance thresholds, competitiveness of any associated price premium, technical feasibility, and the ability to meet project delivery requirements. 

If a supplier would like to be on our mailing list, please reach out to info@buildscoba.org to indicate interest in receiving updates.