At Allied Concrete, we work closely with our customers to ensure that low-carbon concrete solutions meet both performance and sustainability requirements. Specifying the right mix is essential to achieving strength, programme, durability, and environmental goals. Below, we outline the key considerations for specifiers, engineers, and contractors when selecting and using low-carbon concrete, along with the steps we take as a supplier to support this process. 

Selecting the Right Mix Design 

To ensure the best performance for your project, Allied Concrete provides expert guidance on mix selection, considering: 

• Structural requirements: We help determine the correct strength grade (e.g., 30 MPa, 40 MPa) based on your project needs. 

• Optimised cementitious material content: We balance the performance outcomes for the project with the material availability in the region to create a mix design for you.   

• Workability considerations: Some low-carbon mixes may have slightly different properties that conventional concretes.  Some of these impacts such as strength gain at a different rate than traditional concrete. We provide insights into curing methods and placement techniques to ensure successful application. 

What you need to consider: 

• Clearly define performance expectations in your specifications.  Consider strength, strength gain (how quick you want to strike form or use the element), durability, thickness of element being poured and how you want to pour it.  

• Discuss project-specific needs with our team to select the most effective low-carbon mix.  You can contact them here. 

Workability and On-Site Handling 

Low-carbon concrete may have slightly different workability characteristics, depending on the the raw materials available in your region. At Allied Concrete, we: 

• Can advise on differences from a standard concrete mix if this is a feature of the concrete  

• Conduct regular testing at our plants to verify mix consistency. 

• Ensure air content, slump, and setting times meet project requirements. 

What you need to consider: 

• Ensure that slump requirements are well-matched to the application. 

• Be aware that low carbon concrete mixes can look different in their plastic state to standard concretes.  

• Avoid adding excess water on-site, as this can weaken the mix and reduce surface durability. 

Ensuring Proper Curing and Strength Development 

The curing process is critical to achieving the desired strength and durability of low-carbon concrete. Allied Concrete supports this by: 

• Providing guidance on curing methods best suited to each mix. 

• Designing mixes that optimise early strength gain while reducing CO₂ emissions. 

• Conducting compressive strength testing to validate performance over time. 

What you need to consider: 

• Ensure that proper curing techniques are used to prevent moisture loss at the surface as bleed rates may vary from your usual concretes.  This will depend on specific environmental conditions on the day and the details of the mix design.  Consider the use of anti-vap products where to control surface drying 

• Account for potential differences in early-age strength gain, especially in colder conditions. 

• Plan for appropriate formwork removal times to avoid stressing the concrete too soon. 

Maximising the Environmental Benefits 

Specifying low-carbon concrete helps contribute to sustainable building certifications and reduces the embodied carbon footprint of a project by providing actual data particular to the mix being used at that time.  At Allied Concrete we do not rely on self-declaration as all our processes are third party verified by EPD Australasia.  This allows us to create an EPD for any mix design as it is the underlying material and processes that are third party verified. We: 

• Provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) through our EPD On-Demand service to give project-specific carbon impact data.  This covers LCA modules A1-A4.   

• Optimise transport and logistics to reduce the carbon footprint associated with delivery. 

• Source local, sustainable aggregates where possible.   

What you need to consider: 

• If your project is pursuing Green Star, Homestar, or LEED certification, consult with our team on how Ecrete™ can contribute to your sustainability goals. 

• Work with us to assess the carbon footprint of different mix options before finalising specifications. 

By working closely with Allied Concrete’s technical team, specifiers, engineers, and contractors can ensure that low-carbon concrete solutions are tailored to their project needs while delivering long-term performance and sustainability benefits. For more information or assistance in selecting the right mix, contact our team today.