Summary of โthe Article: Sustainable โConcrete Buyers Alliance (SCoBA)
This article details the formation of the Sustainable Concrete Buyers Allianceโ (SCoBA), a group aiming to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon concrete and cement.Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* The Problem: large cement suppliers areโฃ hesitant to invest in expensive โdecarbonization retrofits withoutโฃ guaranteed demand. Conversely, buyers wanting low-carbon options struggle toโ find โreliable suppliers due toโ perceived lack of demand.
* โ scoba’s Solution: SCoBA, led by RMI and the Center for Green market Activation, will leverage the collective purchasing power of its members (including Prologis) to create demand for low-carbon concrete.
* “Book-and-Claim” System: SCoBA will utilize a “book-and-claim” system, similar to renewable energy certificates. This allows buyers to purchase environmental attribute certificatesโ for low-carbon concreteโข without needing physical shipment from distant producers, overcoming geographical limitations. The concrete itself is sourced locally.
* Benefits:
* For suppliers: Provides โfinancial incentiveโฃ and market certainty to โinvestโค in decarbonization technologies.
* For Buyers: โข Allows them to reduce their emissions and access sustainable materials.
* For innovators: Creates a faster path to market for startups like Brimstone, developing new โlow-carbon โขcement technologies.
* Key Players: โฃ RMI, Center for Green Market Activation, Prologis, โand companies like Brimstone.
In essence, SCoBA aims to bridge the gap between supply and demand for sustainable concrete, fostering โคa market thatโฃ supports decarbonization in โthe construction industry.