This concrete can help hit sustainability targets

Low-carbon, high-performance. This article explores how permeable concrete is helping New Zealand build smarter for climate resilience 

The construction industry is aware of the role it plays in the global decarbonisation effort and is taking steps to improve its sustainability. In New Zealand, the embodied carbon problem is being tackled primarily through the Building for Climate Change programme, which is developing a roadmap for the building and construction industry to reduce its emissions. 

Even though the roadmap is in place, the industry can do more to get ahead – said keynote speakers during October’s Concrete NZ conference in Auckland. Clare Tuoblets from SmartCrete CRC asked why construction wasn’t decarbonising at a faster pace, while Global Cement and Concrete Association presenter Dr Andrew Minson said it was important for decarbonisation to be industry-led and guided. 

Thankfully, there are products available to help builders and clients who want to improve project’s sustainability. One such product is Permcon permeable concrete, which is leading the industry in providing permeable concrete to Kiwi builders. The Permcon system looks and acts like traditional concrete, but allows rain to pass through while staying strong enough for carparks, driveways, footpath, cycleways and other applications. 

The Permcon System can hold 45 litres of rain per meter squared (at 150mm Permeable Basecourse depth), and with basic maintenance, keeps performing for decades. 

A problem solver 

This solves real problems. Councils reduce stormwater pressure on the network. Developers meet environmental standards without huge retention tanks. Property owners get surfaces that mitigate flooding. The concrete even traps pollutants before they reach waterways, providing sustainability benefits for all project stakeholders. 

In addition to Permcon’s inherent environmental benefits, the company’s latest product – Permcon CarbonLow™ – can be specified and installed in exactly the same way as the standard Permcon mix, with lower carbon content.  

Designed to reduce embodied carbon by up to 30%, Permcon CarbonLow™ is a low-carbon version of industry-proven permeable concrete, delivering the same strength, durability and permeability customers expect. 

Carbon reduction is achieved by replacing up to 30% of Portland cement with fly ash or ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) – two supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that enhance long-term performance. 

Developed using lifecycle modelling aligned with EPD and ISO 14040/44 standards, Permcon CarbonLow™ supports climate-aligned infrastructure goals without requiring changes to existing specifications or construction methods. 

Future-ready surfaces 

Researchers agree that urban landscapes need surfaces that work with nature, not against it. Permcon permeable concrete systems are part of the solution, making it easier to design landscapes with lower carbon footprints that meet the demands of a changing climate.   

For builders, councils and developers, that means fewer compromises, simpler stormwater design, and a better outcome for the environment and communities alike.