Green concrete clients, we have a problem, and it’s not the superior tech nor the price

Geopolymer and low-carbon concrete products are technically superior to conventional concrete and cost-competitive, yet face unexpectedly slow market uptake despite their environmental benefits. The article explores why green concrete remains difficult to specify and build with, even when performance and pricing arguments are settled. The barrier isn't engineering or economics—it's acceptance within the construction chain, from designers through to builders and certifiers who remain hesitant to deviate from established concrete practices.

For remedial building professionals and strata managers, this signals an important tension in the industry. Sustainability upgrades and new-build specifications increasingly favour low-carbon materials, but resistance to adoption creates delays in retrofits and new projects. Understanding these market adoption barriers helps explain why green concrete hasn't yet become standard practice, and why clients pushing for lower-emission buildings may encounter pushback from contractors unfamiliar with the products or unconvinced of their track record.