Ready-Mix Concrete Companies Rush to Obtain 'Low-Carbon Concrete Certification'

Implementation of Revised Green Product Purchase Act... Higher Scores in Public Building Reviews
Yujin Corporation Only with Level 2 Certification, Sampo and Aju Industry Accelerate Development

Phase 2 Low Carbon Product Certification Mark by the Ministry of Environment.
[Photo by Ministry of Environment website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The ready-mixed concrete industry is accelerating efforts to obtain the second-stage low-carbon certification for concrete products. Except for Yujin Corporation, the only company in Korea to have acquired low-carbon certification, other companies are intensifying their technological development to reduce carbon emissions based on first-stage certification.

Since the amendment to the "Act on the Promotion of Purchase of Green Products (Green Product Purchase Act)" came into effect on the 30th of last month, the purchase of low-carbon certified products has become mandatory for building materials and steel structures used in public buildings, leading to a significant increase in demand for eco-friendly concrete products. In the past, it was permissible not to use eco-friendly concrete products when constructing public buildings above a certain scale, but now the use of eco-friendly concrete is mandatory.

Based on this law, all public buildings undergo the "Green Building Certification (G-SEED)" evaluation, and using concrete certified with either first-stage Environmental Product Declaration or second-stage low-carbon certification earns higher scores. First-stage certified products receive +4 points, while second-stage certified products receive +6 points. Typically, a score of 74 or above qualifies for Grade 1 certification, and 50 or above for Grade 4 certification.

Eco-friendly concrete is not necessarily more expensive. The 4 to 6 points gained are comparable to scores for landscaping or installing solar power facilities. Using only eco-friendly concrete can reduce construction costs since it eliminates the need to plant trees or install separate solar power systems in the building.

Achieving Grade 1 certification for green buildings grants various benefits, including a 12% relaxation in building standards such as floor area ratio and landscaping area, a 15% reduction in acquisition and property taxes respectively, and additional points during pre-screening for Public Procurement Service bidding qualifications. For this reason, the Green Product Purchase Act, which previously applied only to public buildings over 3,000㎡, is now being expanded to most public and private buildings nationwide regardless of size.

The Ministry of Environment has certified 157 products as low-carbon building materials and steel structures, including LG Hausys' phenolic foam board insulation. In the ready-mixed concrete industry, Yujin Corporation has obtained low-carbon product certification for five ready-mixed concrete specifications, such as '25mm (maximum coarse aggregate size) - 27MPa (megapascal, strength) - 150mm (slump)'.

The Ministry of Environment grants the eco-friendly certification "Environmental Product Declaration" and first-stage "Carbon Footprint" certification simply by disclosing the amount of carbon dioxide generated during the product manufacturing process. Among products with first-stage certification, those with carbon emissions below the average of similar products and that reduce carbon emissions by 4.24% compared to existing levels through low-carbon technology receive the second-stage "Low-Carbon Product" certification.

In the ready-mixed concrete industry, about 70 companies including Yujin Corporation, Sampyo, and Aju Industry have obtained first-stage carbon footprint certification for 11 ready-mixed concrete specifications, but Yujin Corporation is the only company to have received second-stage low-carbon product certification.

The '25-27-150' standard product certified as a Level 2 Low Carbon Product by the Ministry of Environment from Yujin Corporation.
[Photo by Yujin Corporation]

Yujin Corporation was the first in the industry to obtain low-carbon product certification for the '25-24-150' specification in 2018 and for the '25-21-150' specification in 2019. In February of this year, it also acquired additional certification for three specifications: '25-27-150', '25-30-150', and '25-35-150', holding a total of five low-carbon products and one carbon footprint product.

Companies that have not yet received second-stage product certification are hurrying their efforts. Sampyo Group is evaluated to have the technology to reduce carbon emissions and is expected to obtain second-stage low-carbon certification as early as September or October. It currently holds first-stage certification for four specifications.

Aju Industry has also received first-stage certification for four specifications and is currently accelerating preparations to obtain second-stage certification. Hanil Cement (7 specifications with first-stage certification), Sehwa Industry (6), Ssangyong Remicon (6), and Dream Remicon (6) are also actively working to obtain second-stage low-carbon certification. For the time being, Yujin Corporation's early preparation is expected to maintain its dominant position.