Sustainable Concrete
Solutions from WCP
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WCP pioneered several of the lowest carbon footprint concrete solutions in the local market, setting a new standard in sustainable building. The key to our success is the right mix of local materials and lower-carbon solutions.
Low Carbon Solutions
WCP helps concrete contractors meet demanding specifications. Available solutions include:
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Concrete with EPDs: Many concrete projects require Environmental Product Declarations or EPDs. These EPDs disclose the carbon footprint of concrete and comply with published standards such as ISO 21930:2017 and relevant product category rules. WCP has 5+ years of experience providing EPDs for our concrete mixtures. Contact our team to request EPDs for your upcoming projects.
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Low Carbon Concrete: Many concrete projects require low or lower carbon concrete. WCP can design custom concrete mixtures to meet the most challenging design requirements. If you provide your required performance specifications for your project and the carbon reduction target, our team can provide a concrete mix that will meet your unique needs.
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Lab Resources: WCP has an in-house concrete testing laboratory to conduct internal quality testing on our concrete. Our concrete lab provide field testing services and mix optimization services to our customers. Contact our team to learn more about available lab services and to receive a price quote for your project.
The WCP Formula for Ultra Low Carbon Concrete
By picking the right mix of cement, cement substitutes and aggregates, WCP can produces some of the lowest carbon footprint concrete in North America.
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Cement
WCP has exclusively used Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) for 5+ years. Our cement is manufactured British Columbia and is among the most sustainable in North America with a Global Warming Potential of only 657 kg CO2 equivalent per metric tonne of material. This performance compares to the U.S. averages of 844 kg/MT for peer Portland Limestone Cement (ASTM C595 cement) and 919 kg/MT for legacy Ordinary Portland Cement (ASTM C150 cements) . The cement used in WCP’s concrete is between 22.2% up to 28.5% lower than the relevant U.S. averages.
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Cement Substitutes
In many cases, the cement used in concrete can be further reduced by substituting with industrial waste streams that are even lower carbon footprint. These cement substitutes such as fly ash, slag can further reduce the carbon footprint of concrete without impacting performance in many applications. WCP uses Holcim’s NewCem slag product as a cement substitute. NewCem has a carbon footprint of <100 kg CO2 per metric tonne of material. Depending on the application, WCP has extensive experience using NewCem to reduce cement usage by 25% to 50%.
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Aggregate
WCP sources our aggregate from nearby aggregate mines. Sourcing locally reduces the carbon footprint of sourcing aggregate. Most of our concrete aggregates are sourced from <10 miles from our concrete plants. Local sourcing makes concrete the ultimate local building material.
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Carbon Storage
WCP is a leader in incorporating carbon negative ingredients into concrete. Carbon storage in concrete can be achieved by adding biochar to concrete. WCP partners with Solid Carbon to produce concrete that can storage up to 50 kg of CO2 equivalent in concrete in the form of biogenic carbon. Learn more about the Solid Carbon technology here
Contact our team to receive a custom low carbon concrete mixture that meets your specific needs.
503-682-2525
The WCP Innovation Engine
WCP is an innovation leader in low carbon concrete and has often been the first adopter of new technologies. A few examples of our innovation pipeline and areas of market leadership include:
ASTM C1709 Cement
We have trialed several ultra-low carbon cement substitutes that conform to ASTM C1709. These technologies include the ability to reduce the clinker content of cement by over 99% and approaches to incorporate finely ground limestone into cement more than the 15% threshold set by ASTM C595. Contact our team to learn about how next generation ASTM C1709 binders could be incorporated into your project.
Carbon Credits
WCP pioneered the use coupling carbon credits with concrete sales. Please feel free to contact our team to discuss strategies to use carbon credits to offset the footprint of concrete used in a specific project.
Carbon Sequestration
WCP was the first adaptor of multiple products that storage biochar in concrete and has experience using biochar from agricultural, municipal sewage and forestry wastes. Through our partnership with Solid Carbon, we can offer multiple options for product that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete and store waste carbon in concrete while reducing the usage of emissions intensive aggregates and cement.
Resources
NRMCA
NRMCA
LAFARGE
Portland Cement Association
Portland Cement Association
LAFARGE
WCP is the ideal partner if you wish to introduce first in market innovation on your project. Please reach out if you are looking for an innovation partner or want to test a new product on your project. We would love to be part of your success!
