Consultation: Revision to Concrete Production Methodology (VM0043)

Verra is launching a public consultation on a major revision to VM0043 CO₂ Utilization in Concrete Production, v1.1 (methodology development ID #CN0128) in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, which would result in the publication of VM0043, v2.0. The consultation will run from July 10 through August 10, 2026.

VM0043 applies to project activities that use waste CO₂ as a feedstock in the production of concrete. Such project activities reduce greenhouse gas emissions in two ways:

1. Project activities incorporate waste CO₂ into concrete; this lowers emissions by capturing gas that would have otherwise been emitted into the atmosphere and permanently embedding it in concrete.
2. Project activities lower the amount of cement required in concrete production compared to traditional production processes, further reducing emissions because cement production is highly energy- and carbon-intensive.

This methodology is applicable globally and utilizes a positive list for determining additionality.

The current scope of the proposed revision includes the following:

• Inclusion of the following eligible optional project activities in the methodology scope and the corresponding quantification and monitoring requirements:
  • Use of supplementary cementitious materials not diverted from existing uses
  • Use of process water with dissolved CO₂
  • Reduction of process-related CO₂ emissions from steam curing
  • Mineralization of CO₂ into recycled concrete aggregate feedstocks
• Inclusion of natural carbonation in the calculations of emission reductions and removals (ERRs) (i.e., CO₂ that would be sequestered naturally without project intervention)
• Introduction of requirements to conduct project-based calculations and update the static (default) value for the default mineralization efficiency of 60%
• Inclusion of a new cement displacement factor of 6.5%, which replaces the default factor of 30%
• Replacing the default emission intensity of liquid CO₂ processing with the provisions in VMD0056 CO₂ Capture from Air (Direct Air Capture) and generally seeking alignment with VM0049 Carbon Capture and Storage where applicable
• Providing information/guidance on the acceptable sources of data to determine the quantity of Portland cement in each mix design in the baseline
• Restricting the eligibility of ongoing capture facilities in line with VMD0059 CO₂ Capture from Bioenergy
• Making editorial improvements to align the text with the current methodology template

The development of this methodology revision is being sponsored by CarbonCure Technologies, which is also a technical contributor.* Additionally, 3Degrees is a technical contributor.

*The funding provided for the development of this methodology was made on a voluntary basis, with no expectation of reciprocity or quid pro quo, including, without limitation, preferential treatment in project-related decisions, the granting of approvals, or the acceleration of project registration or issuance.

Please see the proposed revision document (PDF) for the full background and details about the proposed updates.

Verra is accepting feedback through its digital public consultation platform, which is hosted on the Verra Project Hub. Stakeholders will need to use the link provided to enter their personal details, confirm their email address, and access the online consultation form. For additional guidance, please review the user guide (PDF).

Comments may be submitted electronically via the online form by 11:59 pm Anywhere on Earth (UTC-12) on August 10, 2026. If you experience issues using the digital public consultation platform or have feedback on it, please contact hubsupport@verra.org.