The Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance (SCoBA) has issued a global request for proposals (RFP) to secure multi-year offtake agreements for up to 250,000 tons of low-carbon cement per year. A joint initiative between the Center for Green Market Activation (GMA) and RMI, the programme seeks to bypass traditional cost and geographic barriers that have historically hindered the decarbonisation of the construction sector.
Targeting production starts as early as 2027, the RFP focuses on products that achieve at least a 67% reduction in emissions compared to current industry benchmarks. The initiative uses a “book-and-claim” framework, allowing member companies to purchase environmental attribute certificates. This model enables firms to meet Scope 3 climate goals even if the physical low-carbon material is used at a different, more logistically practical location.
Bryan Fisher, managing director of RMI’s industries programme, highlighted the necessity of this collective approach, “Decarbonising cement is essential to tackling emissions in the built environment, but progress has been constrained by fragmented demand and limited access to low-carbon solutions. We’re excited to be entering the next phase of our cement and concrete demand initiative with GMA, connecting leading companies with cutting-edge producers to secure the long-term offtake agreements project developers need to confidently pursue decarbonisation projects in this critical industrial sector.”
By pooling demand from various end-use customers, SCoBA aims to provide the financial certainty required for innovative producers to scale their operations. Kim Carnahan, CEO at GMA, noted that the market is ready for this shift, “Our outreach to the market confirms a growing pipeline of low-emissions cement solutions seeking credible demand. SCoBA’s innovative procurement brings that demand together, sending a signal individual buyers cannot achieve alone. This is about turning climate ambition into real market movement.”
