# Construction chemicals: Emissions

Why a tiny admixture dose can cut concrete's carbon

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/emissions/

Why a tiny admixture dose can cut concrete's carbon What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 0.51 t CO2e per t range 0.5-0.7 (EFCA model EPD 2024: 0.514; EFCA eco-profile 2002: 0.69 kg CO2 per kg superplasticiser) · European model EPD for plasticisers and superplasticisers, 1 kg of admixture solution

Per kg of admixture, cradle-to-gate (A1-A3). Intensity: EFCA/Deutsche Bauchemie model EPD EPD-DBE-20230567-IBG2-EN (2024) via SikaPlast-380 declaration; EFCA eco-profile (2002). Global total: not published.

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 70% Production / process 20% Movement 10%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 0.35 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 70% | ethylene oxide and acrylic acid production | EFCA 2002 lists coal, oil and gas inputs of about 16 MJ per kg in total | indicative split of the EPD total |
| **Production / process** | about 0.1 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 20% | polymerisation heat and electricity |  | indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.012 t CO2e per t to site (module C2-type value) plus inbound freight | 10% | road tankers carrying a product that is 55-70% water |  | EFCA model EPD 2024 (C2 0.0124 kg/kg); indicative share |
| **Use** | negative in effect: enables lower cement content | – | at the 2% maximum dose an admixture adds about 0.010 t CO2e per t of cement (0.02 x 0.514), against about 0.63 t CO2e per t of cement | if it lets a mix use 10% less cement it saves about 0.06 t CO2e per t of cement replaced (indicative) | derived from EFCA model EPD 2024 and cement tile |
| **End of life** | about 0.026 t CO2e per t (C4) and -0.044 credit (D) | – | stays in concrete; crushed concrete reused as aggregate |  | EFCA model EPD 2024 |

#### Other environmental impacts

Isocyanate and epoxy exposure; VOCs from solvent-based coatings; microplastic and leachate concerns from some membranes; bitumen fumes.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Use admixtures to cut cement and water content: cement is about 0.63 t CO2e per t and the world made about 3.8 billion t in 2025 (cement tile)
- Admixtures that make high-slag, fly ash and calcined clay cements work, supporting a lower clinker ratio (from 0.76 towards 0.57 by 2050, per Columbia CKI via cement tile)
- Bio-based or bio-attributed EO for PCE side chains (indicative)
- Renewable power and heat at polymer plants; Sika cut scope 1 and 2 emissions by 6.1% in 2025 (Sika)

#### India

India makes 470 Mt of cement a year (2025). Wider use of PCE in ready-mix and admixtures for fly-ash and slag blends is a direct route to lower cement per cubic metre (indicative). Company-level admixture footprints for India are not published.
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Admixtures for CO2-optimised concrete (EFCA group A model EPD)** | 0.514 kg CO2e per kg admixture | not published | commercial; model EPD valid to March 2029 | EFCA model EPD 2024 |
| **Admixtures for low-clinker and limestone calcined clay cements (e.g. Master Builders Solutions MasterCO2RE range)** | not published here | not published | commercial in Europe | Master Builders Solutions EPD (MasterCO2RE 3015) |

 For a climate investor The climate value is in the cement admixtures avoid, not in the admixture's own footprint, which is small. Opportunities: admixtures and grinding aids tuned for calcined clay and high-SCM cements; ready-mix penetration in Indian cities; local PCE macromonomer supply. What has to be true: tenders reward lower embodied carbon per cubic metre (EPD-based), not just strength and price. Sika, Saint-Gobain and Pidilite are the listed exposures.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/links/index.md)