CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head id="head"><title> What is Concrete </title><meta charset="UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" />  <script type="text/javascript"> window.ga=window.ga||function(){(ga.q=ga.q||[]).push(arguments)};ga.l=+new Date; ga('create', 'UA-10296459-3', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script async="async" src="https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js" type="text/javascript"></script>  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?stylesheetname=normalise.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?stylesheetname=jquery.bxslider.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?stylesheetname=selectordie.css" media="all" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?stylesheetname=TCCForms.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?stylesheetname=sustainable" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?stylesheetname=owl.carousel.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?stylesheetname=responsive.css" /> <script src="/CMSScripts/Custom/jquery-1.11.3.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/CMSScripts/Custom/jquery-ui.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/CMSScripts/Custom/respond.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/CMSScripts/Custom/jquery.bxslider.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/CMSScripts/Custom/isotope.pkgd.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/CMSScripts/Custom/selectordie.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/CMSScripts/Custom/owl.carousel.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/CMSScripts/Custom/mpa-sustainable.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link href="/App_Themes/Default/Images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" rel="shortcut icon" /> <link href="/App_Themes/Default/Images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" rel="icon" /> <link href="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?_webparts=677" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /> </head> <body class="LTR IE ENGB ContentBody"> <form method="post" action="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete.aspx" onsubmit="javascript:return WebForm_OnSubmit();" id="form"> <div class="aspNetHidden"> <input type="hidden" name="__CMSCsrfToken" id="__CMSCsrfToken" value="E+AvMtVBoAutETV7Jugn7Sa8CoHPjCYaQ7nHEWZkKxqOxrPeNBN6voCRSUUEJnxf65rDwMfOB3N9fRUCSOavrGkaHR5OPvhieH+A5NJ4pq0=" /> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTTARGET" id="__EVENTTARGET" value="" /> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTARGUMENT" id="__EVENTARGUMENT" value="" /> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="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" /> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var theForm = document.forms['form']; if (!theForm) { theForm = document.form; } function __doPostBack(eventTarget, eventArgument) { if (!theForm.onsubmit || (theForm.onsubmit() != false)) { theForm.__EVENTTARGET.value = eventTarget; theForm.__EVENTARGUMENT.value = eventArgument; theForm.submit(); } } //]]> </script> <script src="/WebResource.axd?d=pynGkmcFUV13He1Qd6_TZFWLRwepoU7Cra24bYI_o0z5PwbFZwvAtNo3O3WvtXFjR2vuZK0E9Vpe4K64mRVhBQ2&t=638610907965203766" type="text/javascript"></script> <input type="hidden" name="lng" id="lng" value="en-GB" /> <script src="/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?scriptfile=%7e%2fCMSScripts%2fWebServiceCall.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function PM_Postback(param) { if (window.top.HideScreenLockWarningAndSync) { window.top.HideScreenLockWarningAndSync(1080); } if(window.CMSContentManager) { CMSContentManager.allowSubmit = true; }; __doPostBack('m$am',param); } function PM_Callback(param, callback, ctx) { if (window.top.HideScreenLockWarningAndSync) { window.top.HideScreenLockWarningAndSync(1080); }if (window.CMSContentManager) { CMSContentManager.storeContentChangedStatus(); };WebForm_DoCallback('m$am',param,callback,ctx,null,true); } //]]> </script> <script src="/ScriptResource.axd?d=NJmAwtEo3Ipnlaxl6CMhvqC-UFNAcc6tKCqR34_xMbCFuzF5Tk0z6pIWnUty0Ygy_keVXQ4yp1stju7w_5iVb9i8QQGDka_Kpc-9vnIeQPfjtr2E-6tUISNnYKG2Ys-b1pYPiflC9CkWBqcUWYFnR818wYJuJlVBUPxmQ8zd5_81&t=ffffffffb201fd3f" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/ScriptResource.axd?d=dwY9oWetJoJoVpgL6Zq8ODIEFz4V3cXjiZfnWb5j-k3c2-vHpw7yQ-swLOS85AztX6wqLqu3dcE5fazz95SKcJxYx1AwWJ0EBxIcrjkKCIcSyd9KntSNZExEgN38oyy6LAW4B4LmxYJ1-DkjJnT7UuSGA2-ltGhC6PUYHO4qBXs1&t=ffffffffb201fd3f" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/ScriptResource.axd?d=eE6V8nDbUVn0gtG6hKNX_P3QHxg4Ns-p3m0FJPGulfBB9T6P1Jjctk5rlOQUF6G50HHJKt2yDR5clcUa3m_XzutLgZu7hIocQaU8O-4e2awG3j2mPklQALftngvX4krL0&t=27679117" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/ScriptResource.axd?d=mcAASOSteirJeuV-3by3UTtQI9fn_staQjSV6VCuAGEa0VBTj9NP3nl5Zgo8MXLrOPCh9gBW1CWLyHnxiZuzcsAzPg1MfHa_78L4R3m7JBU1&t=27679117" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/ScriptResource.axd?d=jwf4VSQi7LeShc44FJ-gAdwjFYiCZHmQ2pa3zlhu9Z8vLdCrAugduXfc6MGz45_sfSegOdCWuT8b9RHbk0f8uje_h_RiMgPDBNTJ-3_k5iBfhWCYSi7k7CtmlE7zmJXE0&t=27679117" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/ScriptResource.axd?d=HEFpVKbnoeQjkjHkFKu3MMRYdu7Q4ATRF0U6tgtgUfLVawvhjTE3rPKnUoeNjSUad-aWfWPWBgvUFsIk1gBWFMRU8Hbps0UnNai1bovrw-PGgmzoF2znghlvXW76B1mk0&t=27679117" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/ScriptResource.axd?d=X6kQKInQS5YQqruiTh57iE-WXSRHmEAO--zl2HTfYUozfz73mrNel9TTg47eIACBod47Fp8cRx9JdM62eDtPfoK-1kAHbKn3VYX5yXDT4XTmzTiUoLsrfy48jQrPIlXE0&t=27679117" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var CMS = CMS || {}; CMS.Application = { "language": "en", "imagesUrl": "/CMSPages/GetResource.ashx?image=%5bImages.zip%5d%2f", "isDebuggingEnabled": false, "applicationUrl": "/", "isDialog": false, "isRTL": "false" }; //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function WebForm_OnSubmit() { null; return true; } //]]> </script> <div class="aspNetHidden"> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" id="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" value="A5343185" /> <input type="hidden" name="__SCROLLPOSITIONX" id="__SCROLLPOSITIONX" value="0" /> <input type="hidden" name="__SCROLLPOSITIONY" id="__SCROLLPOSITIONY" value="0" /> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.WebForms.PageRequestManager._initialize('manScript', 'form', ['tctxM',''], [], [], 90, ''); //]]> </script> <div id="ctxM"> </div> <div class="container"> <header> <article class="logo"> <a href="/"><img src="/App_Themes/Sustainable/images/sustainable-logo.jpg" alt="Sustainable Concrete" /></a> </article> <nav> <ul id="menuElem"> <li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/About-Us.aspx">About us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Contact-Us.aspx">Contact us</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <article class="search"> <div id="p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_pnlSearch" class="searchBox" onkeypress="javascript:return WebForm_FireDefaultButton(event, 'p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_btnSearch')"> <label for="p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_txtWord" id="p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_lblSearch" style="display:none;">Search for:</label> <input type="hidden" name="p$lt$ctl01$SmartSearchBox$txtWord_exWatermark_ClientState" id="p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_txtWord_exWatermark_ClientState" /><input name="p$lt$ctl01$SmartSearchBox$txtWord" type="text" maxlength="1000" id="p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_txtWord" class="form-control" /> <input type="submit" name="p$lt$ctl01$SmartSearchBox$btnSearch" value="Search" id="p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_btnSearch" class="btn btn-default" /> <div id="p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_pnlPredictiveResultsHolder" class="predictiveSearchHolder"> </div> </div> </article> </header> <section class="nav-content"> <div class="mobile-toggle"><span></span></div> <nav> <ul><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete.aspx" title="What is Concrete">What is Concrete</a> <ul><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Admixtures.aspx" title="Admixtures">Admixtures</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Aggregates.aspx" title="Aggregates">Aggregates</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Benefits-of-concrete.aspx" title="Benefits of concrete">Benefits of concrete</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Blocks.aspx" title="Blocks">Blocks</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Cementitious-Materials.aspx" title="Cementitious Materials">Cementitious Materials</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Innovation-New-Technology.aspx" title="Innovative concrete">Innovative concrete</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Mortar.aspx" title="Mortar">Mortar</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Precast.aspx" title="Precast">Precast</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Ready-mixed-Concrete.aspx" title="Ready-mixed Concrete">Ready-mixed Concrete</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Reinforcement.aspx" title="Reinforcement">Reinforcement</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Water.aspx" title="Water">Water</a> </li></ul> <span class="nav-toggle"></span> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Our-Strategy.aspx" title="Our Strategy">Our Strategy</a> <ul><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Our-Strategy/Latest-CO2e-values-for-concrete.aspx" title="CO2e values for concrete">CO2e values for concrete</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Our-Strategy/Our-Commitments.aspx" title="Our Commitments">Our Commitments</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Our-Strategy/Our-Report.aspx" title="Our Report">Our Report</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Our-Strategy/Our-Roadmap-to-Beyond-Net-Zero.aspx" title="Our Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero">Our Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Our-Strategy/Our-Strategy-and-Vision.aspx" title="Our Strategy and Vision">Our Strategy and Vision</a> </li></ul> <span class="nav-toggle"></span> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators.aspx" title="Performance Indicators">Performance Indicators</a> <ul><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Biodiversity.aspx" title="Biodiversity">Biodiversity</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/CO2-Emissions-Production.aspx" title="CO2 Emissions - Production">CO2 Emissions - Production</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Emissions-Excluding-CO2.aspx" title="Emissions excluding CO2">Emissions excluding CO2</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Employment-and-Skills.aspx" title="Employment and Skills">Employment and Skills</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Energy-Efficiency.aspx" title="Energy Efficiency">Energy Efficiency</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Environmental-Management.aspx" title="Environmental Management">Environmental Management</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Health-and-Safety.aspx" title="Health and Safety">Health and Safety</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Local-Community.aspx" title="Local Community">Local Community</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Quality-and-Performance.aspx" title="Quality and Performance">Quality and Performance</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Resource-Efficiency.aspx" title="Resource Efficiency">Resource Efficiency</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Responsible-Sourcing.aspx" title="Responsible Sourcing">Responsible Sourcing</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Transport.aspx" title="Transport">Transport</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Waste-Minimisation.aspx" title="Waste Minimisation">Waste Minimisation</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Performance-Indicators/Water.aspx" title="Water">Water</a> </li></ul> <span class="nav-toggle"></span> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights.aspx" title="Ten Insights">Ten Insights</a> <ul><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Carbon.aspx" title="1. Carbon">1. Carbon</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Resource-Efficiency.aspx" title="2. Resource Use">2. Resource Use</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Responsible-Sourcing.aspx" title="3. Responsible Sourcing">3. Responsible Sourcing</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Water.aspx" title="4. Water">4. Water</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Natural-Environment.aspx" title="5. Natural Environment">5. Natural Environment</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Resilience.aspx" title="6. Resilience">6. Resilience </a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Economy.aspx" title="7. Economy">7. Economy</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Wellbeing.aspx" title="8. Wellbeing">8. Wellbeing</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Regulations-and-Standards.aspx" title="9. Standards and Benchmarking">9. Standards and Benchmarking</a> </li><li> <a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/Ten-Insights/Performance-Metrics.aspx" title="10. Performance Metrics">10. Performance Metrics </a> </li></ul> <span class="nav-toggle"></span> </li></ul> </nav> </section> <section class="content-column landing"> <article class="breadcrumb"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><span class="CMSBreadCrumbsCurrentItem">What is Concrete</span> </li> </ul> </article> <section class="col-1"> <h1>What is Concrete</h1> <p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif;">Concrete is easily and readily prepared and fabricated in all sorts of shapes and structural systems. Its great simplicity lies in the fact that its constituents are ubiquitous and are readily available almost anywhere in the world. As a result of its ubiquity, functionality and flexibility it has become by far the most popular and widely used construction material in the world.<br />  <br /> The material concrete is often confused with the material cement. Cement is one of the many constituents of concrete, part of the glue that holds the other materials together. Concrete is made by mixing cement, supplementary <a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Cementitious-Materials.aspx">cementitious materials</a>, <a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Water.aspx">water</a>, fine <a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Aggregates.aspx">aggregate</a> (sand/crushed rock fines), coarse aggregate (gravel or crushed rock) with or without <a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Admixtures.aspx">admixtures</a>, <a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Reinforcement.aspx">reinforcement</a>, fibres or pigments.<br />  <br /> The ingredients are proportioned and engineered to produce a concrete of a specific strength and durability, so it is 'fit for purpose' for the job for which it is intended. It can be produced in the form of <a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Precast.aspx">precast</a> products or as <a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Ready-mixed-Concrete.aspx">ready-mixed</a> concrete, which is delivered in the familiar rotating concrete lorry.<br />  <br /> There are literally thousands of sites throughout the UK from which concrete can be sourced. One of the major sustainability benefits of concrete is that it is almost entirely sourced from within the UK, with the average delivery distance for all concrete being 48km.</p> <section class="sub-nav js-isotope" data-isotope-options="{ "itemSelector": ".cta-linkbox", "masonry": { "columnWidth": ".cta-linkbox", "gutter": ".subnavspace" } }"> <div class="subnavspace"></div> <article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Admixtures.aspx">Admixtures</a></h2> <p><p>Admixtures are used to improve the performance of fresh and hardened concrete and in both cases there are potential sustainability benefits. The amount of admixture required is small compared to the amount of concrete enhanced by their use. </p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Aggregates.aspx">Aggregates</a></h2> <p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">Aggregates are inert granular materials such as sand, gravel or crushed rock that are used in construction as a product in their own right, as well as being an essential ingredient in concrete.</span></p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Benefits-of-concrete.aspx">Benefits of concrete</a></h2> <p><p>Concrete has a number of performance characteristics that can improve the sustainability performance of a building or structure.</p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Blocks.aspx">Blocks</a></h2> <p><p>There are essentially two types of concrete block: aggregate blocks and aircrete blocks. From an environmental perspective, they are locally produced and can have a high recycled content, giving them low embodied CO2.</p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Cementitious-Materials.aspx">Cementitious Materials</a></h2> <p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">'Cement’ generally refers to the powder component of concrete which, when mixed with water, becomes the glue-like material, or binder, that allows concrete to set, harden and strengthen. These materials include Portland cement, fly ash, ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS), limestone fines and silica fume.</span></p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Innovation-New-Technology.aspx">Innovative concrete</a></h2> <p><p>Find out how concrete is evolving and innovating to deliver a sustainable built environment now and for future generations.</p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Mortar.aspx">Mortar</a></h2> <p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Mortar is a material used in masonry construction to fill the gaps between the bricks and blocks. Mortar is a mixture of sand, a binder such as cement or lime, and water and is applied as a paste which then sets hard.</span></p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Precast.aspx">Precast</a></h2> <p><p>Precast concrete refers to any concrete products formed in factory conditions and then provided to site. This includes concrete blocks, precast concrete elements for buildings and infrastructure, as well as whole building systems.</p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Ready-mixed-Concrete.aspx">Ready-mixed Concrete</a></h2> <p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">Ready-mixed refers to concrete that is batched for delivery from a central plant, instead of being mixed on the job site. Each batch of ready-mixed concrete is tailor-made according to the specifics of the contractor.</span></p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Reinforcement.aspx">Reinforcement</a></h2> <p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Rebar (reinforcing bar) is an important component of reinforced concrete. The steel used in UK reinforced concrete utilises 100% recycled scrap steel. At the end of its life, all reinforcing steel can be recovered, recycled and used again.</span></p> </p> </article><article class="cta-linkbox subnav-item"> <h2><a href="/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Water.aspx">Water</a></h2> <p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">Water is a finite resource. </span><span style="text-align: justify;">The UK concrete sector is very aware of the importance of water, especially when considered alongside the likely impacts of global warming and climate change.</span></p> </p> </article> </section> </section> <section class="col-2"> <h3>Publication</h3> <p><a href="/MPA-ACP/media/SustainableCon-Media-Library/Pdfs%20-%20Performance%20reports/14th-146829-TCC-Performance-Report-A4-6pp-Prf6.pdf" target="_blank">The Fourteenth Concrete Industry Sustainability Performance Report</a></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="/MPA-ACP/media/SustainableCon-Media-Library/Pdfs%20-%20Performance%20reports/14th-146829-TCC-Performance-Report-A4-6pp-Prf6.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/getmedia/7e1edc47-3e04-445b-b744-7ec427c82936/14th-Performance-report.aspx?width=200&height=283" style="width: 200px; height: 283px;" /></a></p> <h3>Further information</h3> <p>To find out more about concrete products, please use the following links:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Admixtures.aspx">Admixtures</a></li> <li><a href="/Sustainabahttps://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Aggregates.aspxle/What-is-Concrete/Aggregates.aspx">Aggregates</a></li> <li><a href="/Sustahttps://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Cementitious-Materials.aspxainable/What-is-Concrete/Cementitious-Materials.aspx">Cementitious materials</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Mortar.aspx">Mortar</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Precast.aspx">Precast</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Ready-mixed-Concrete.aspx">Ready mixed concrete</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Reinforcement.aspx">Reinforcement </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete/Water.aspx">Water</a></li> </ul> </section> <div class="clear"></div> </section> <footer> <section class="footer-left"> <article class="footer-logo"> <img src="/App_Themes/TCC/images/tcc-logo.png" alt="The Concrete Centre" /> </article> <article class="footer-text"> <p><a href="http://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/">Sustainable Concrete, part of The Concrete Centre</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk" title="Sustainable Concrete">www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk</a> is managed by The Concrete Centre. The Concrete Centre is part of the Mineral Products Association Ltd (MPA).</p> </article> </section> <section class="footer-right"> <article class="footer-nav"> </article> <article class="copyright">Copyright © MPA The Concrete Centre</article> <article class="credit"><a href="http://www.unified.co.uk" target="_blank">Website by Unified Solutions</a></article> </section> <div class="clear"></div> </footer> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ WebServiceCall('/cmsapi/webanalytics', 'LogHit', '{"NodeAliasPath":"/Sustainable-Concrete/What-is-Concrete","DocumentCultureCode":"en-GB","UrlReferrer":""}') //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var callBackFrameUrl='/WebResource.axd?d=beToSAE3vdsL1QUQUxjWdc8GfrWkdo62HN3iIubSBcfKvBl3IAhL9GBrv0j9-X_rknWqCN9Hkl5JdnxH_R_x5w2&t=638610907965203766'; WebForm_InitCallback(); theForm.oldSubmit = theForm.submit; theForm.submit = WebForm_SaveScrollPositionSubmit; theForm.oldOnSubmit = theForm.onsubmit; theForm.onsubmit = WebForm_SaveScrollPositionOnSubmit; Sys.Application.add_init(function() { $create(Sys.Extended.UI.TextBoxWatermarkBehavior, {"ClientStateFieldID":"p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_txtWord_exWatermark_ClientState","id":"p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_txtWord_exWatermark","watermarkText":"Search"}, null, null, $get("p_lt_ctl01_SmartSearchBox_txtWord")); }); //]]> </script> </form> </body> </html>