CapitaLand Development (CLD) has contributed to Singapore’s first market-wide reference for examining the carbon footprint of concrete, created in collaboration with global coalition Climate Group’s ConcreteZero initiative.
The Concrete Data for Concrete Action benchmark, published on Feb 26, will help construction players identify and choose lower-carbon concrete options and reduce embodied carbon in the industry.
Concrete is one of the main contributors to the embodied carbon footprint of most buildings and infrastructure assets. Embodied carbon represents the carbon emissions released during the life-cycle of the building materials.
According to CLD and ConcreteZero, the built environment accounts for almost 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with concrete alone accounting for 8%. “By equipping developers, suppliers, regulators and financiers with a common reference point, the benchmark accelerates the transition from isolated pilot projects to systematic market adoption, reducing embodied carbon in construction at scale.”
The benchmark presents volume-weighted average, minimum and maximum embodied carbon values across six common concrete strength classes for concrete supplied in 2024.
The data captured covers an estimated 68% of the ready-mix normal weight market over that period. A number of local firms contributed to the report, including City Developments, Frasers Property Singapore, Hong Leong Asia’s building materials group, JTC Corporation, Mapletree Investment, Pan-United Concrete, Keppel, Soilbuild Contractors and Woh Hup.
A 132-page report accompanying the benchmark provides a data-driven snapshot of the carbon intensity of concrete used in Singapore in 2024. The report outlines a transparent methodology for collecting and analysing embodied carbon data.
With the market benchmark, demand and supply-side industry stakeholders can make informed decisions, say CLD and ConcreteZero.
For example, concrete users can benchmark performance and set carbon targets, while regulators can align standards and track progress. Suppliers can differentiate products and guide innovation, and financiers can assess climate risk and support transition pathways.
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According to CLD and ConcreteZero, the benchmark supports the evolution of certification schemes, procurement frameworks and regulatory standards. While it enables “year-on-year tracking” of the state of the industry, City & Country understands there are currently no plans for an annual exercise.
Singapore imports nearly all of its cement and building materials. The report draws on frameworks from the UK and Australia, adapted for Singapore’s market to ensure the data is relevant for overseas markets. The methodology can also be replicated across Asia and the rest of the world.
SGBC CEO Yvonne Soh says the concrete benchmark validates SGBC’s “long-standing efforts” in market transformation for sustainable products. “By quantifying baseline emissions across the various concrete strength grades, we can now accelerate the transition to low-carbon concrete with greater strategic purpose and evidence-based action.”
In 2023, JTC launched the Singapore Building Carbon Calculator in collaboration with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and SGBC. The free web tool allows users to calculate the embodied carbon of projects using carbon emission factors that have been adapted to reflect Singapore’s context.
Speaking to City & Country, Soh says findings from the benchmark may be used to update the emissions factors referenced by the Singapore Building Carbon Calculator.
CLD is the unlisted development arm of the CapitaLand Group, with a portfolio valued at $18.5 billion as at Sept 30, 2025. CLD announced in 2024 that it plans to reduce embodied carbon intensity by at least 22% by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline.
Tony Tan, CLD’s chief corporate officer, says: "Developing high-quality spaces that support construction decarbonisation begins with making responsible choices at every stage, including what we build with.”
Tan adds: "This benchmark provides the market with a reference tool to recognise and value low-carbon concrete. By aligning developers, suppliers, financiers and policymakers around shared data, it accelerates adoption at scale and helps buyers and investors identify buildings that will remain competitive as sustainability standards rise.”
