Singapore Launches First National Benchmark for Embodied Carbon in Concrete

SINGAPORE, March 12, 2026 – Singapore has introduced its first market-wide benchmark for measuring the embodied carbon of concrete, a move aimed at accelerating decarbonisation across the built environment and strengthening transparency in construction supply chains.

Developed by CapitaLand Development together with Climate Group’s ConcreteZero initiative, the “Concrete Data for Concrete Action” benchmark provides the construction industry with a shared reference point for assessing the carbon footprint of concrete used in Singapore’s projects.

The initiative establishes a baseline measurement of the embodied carbon intensity of concrete supplied in Singapore, enabling developers, suppliers, regulators and financiers to identify lower-carbon alternatives and track progress in reducing emissions associated with construction materials.

Concrete plays a critical role in Singapore’s urban landscape and infrastructure, but it is also a major contributor to global emissions. The built environment accounts for nearly 40 percent of global carbon emissions, while concrete alone is responsible for around 8 percent of global CO₂ emissions.

The new benchmark aims to address this challenge by providing the industry with consistent, verified data that can guide procurement decisions, policy development and investment strategies aimed at lowering the carbon footprint of construction materials.

Establishing Singapore’s first market benchmark

The benchmark represents the most detailed analysis of the carbon intensity of concrete supplied in Singapore to date. It is based on verified environmental data from concrete suppliers and covers an estimated 68 percent of the ready-mix concrete market.

The analysis evaluates embodied carbon performance across six commonly used concrete strength classes supplied in 2024, presenting minimum, maximum and volume-weighted average emissions values for each category.

By establishing this baseline, the benchmark provides the industry with a clear understanding of what qualifies as relatively lower-carbon concrete compared with the market average.

The report also enables year-on-year tracking of emissions performance, allowing stakeholders to monitor progress and identify opportunities to scale the adoption of lower-carbon materials.

According to the report, Singapore’s urban development patterns drive high consumption of concrete, with the country using more than 11 million cubic metres annually, equivalent to roughly 1.9 cubic metres per person each year.

Upstream emissions associated with concrete production are estimated at 3.7 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, representing about 6 percent of Singapore’s national emissions.

Supporting Singapore’s climate targets

The benchmark arrives as Singapore pushes forward with its national climate commitments under the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and its longer-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Reducing embodied carbon from construction materials has emerged as a priority because these emissions occur before buildings are even operational. While building energy efficiency has long been a focus of sustainability policies, tackling emissions embedded in materials such as concrete represents the next major frontier in decarbonising the built environment.

The new benchmark provides a practical mechanism for aligning stakeholders across the value chain around common measurement standards and carbon reduction targets.

Mike Peirce, Executive Director of Systems Change at Climate Group, described the benchmark as a significant step for the region. “Singapore’s embodied carbon benchmark is a critical step forward for Southeast Asia’s built environment. As the country’s first standardised measurement framework for concrete, it gives industry the transparency needed to make informed decisions about low-carbon materials,” he said.

Driving industry alignment and innovation

Industry leaders say the benchmark can help accelerate the transition from pilot projects to broader market adoption of low-carbon construction practices.

Tony Tan, Chief Corporate Officer at CapitaLand Development, noted that the initiative enables developers and investors to recognise and value lower-carbon materials. “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,” Tan said.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) also sees the benchmark as supporting Singapore’s broader decarbonisation roadmap for the built environment.

Tan Chee Kiat, Deputy CEO for Industry Development at BCA, said the study’s findings highlight the progress already made in adopting lower-carbon concrete and provide a roadmap for further industry transformation.

“These insights will provide a roadmap for our stakeholders as they transition towards low-carbon developments,” he said.

A model for Asia’s construction sector

Beyond Singapore, the benchmark is designed as a replicable model that can be adopted in other markets.

The methodology combines industry data collection, environmental product declarations and life-cycle analysis to establish a transparent framework for measuring embodied carbon in concrete.

Developers of the benchmark say the approach could serve as a blueprint for other construction markets across Asia seeking to decarbonise building materials and improve transparency in supply chains.

As Singapore imports most of its construction materials, including cement and aggregates, the initiative could also influence regional suppliers by creating stronger demand signals for lower-carbon materials.

Ultimately, the benchmark aims to catalyse coordinated action across the construction ecosystem. By enabling concrete users to set carbon targets, regulators to align standards, suppliers to innovate and financiers to support low-carbon investments, the initiative is intended to drive systemic change across the built environment.

With the benchmark now established, industry stakeholders expect the data to guide procurement practices, inform certification frameworks and accelerate the transition towards sustainable construction across Singapore and the wider region.