While exhibiting and participating in PROCEMCO in Cartagena, Colombia, the American Concrete Institute and the Global Cement and Concrete Association were able to formalize their cooperative efforts by signing an International Partnership Agreement. This new agreement formalizes the desire to collaboratively develop and disseminate information on concrete, concrete structures and especially on concrete sustainability. International Partners work with ACI to increase access to concrete information worldwide.

GCCA is the key driver of sustainability in the cement and concrete industry, working towards the goal of carbon neutral concrete. Representing 80 percent of global production outside of China, as well as key Chinese producers such as CNBM, the GCCA launched its 2050 Net Zero Roadmap in 2021, outlining the levers, milestones and pathways to achieve a decarbonized industry. This includes new technologies, innovations and - importantly - improving efficiency in design and construction. Here, the contribution of design and construction professionals to delivering carbon reductions through concrete projects is crucial. This partnership will support dissemination of best practices to enable specification of sustainable concrete and design of lower carbon concrete elements and structures.

The agreement with the GCCA is part of ACI’s strategic plan to promote concrete sustainability and the use of ACI’s concrete knowledge to assist concrete industry professionals globally to manage increasing requirements for the design of concrete structures. In addition, ACI recently launched NEU: An ACI Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete. NEU’s members include designers, contractors and material suppliers, as well as consumers and owners of concrete structures. NEU aims to collaborate globally to drive research, education, awareness and adoption of carbon neutral materials and technologies in the industry to reach the goal shared with GCCA – Carbon Neutral Concrete.

ACI cooperates closely with our International Partners, benefitting everyone in the global concrete community. ACI looks forward to working with the GCCA toward a future where everyone has the knowledge needed to use the latest concrete technologies effectively to meet the demands of a changing world.