Optimizing the embodied carbon of the product stage of reinforced concrete columns

Abstract The construction sector faces urgent sustainability challenges. This study quantifies the potential for reducing embodied carbon in reinforced concrete columns by optimizing concrete strength and reinforcement ratios. The interplay between concrete compressive strength (20–90 MPa), reinforcement percentages (0.2%–2.0%), and embodied carbon emissions has been analyzed using a direct design approach based on Eurocode 2. The analysis shows that a 25% reduction in embodied carbon per meter of column is possible when increasing concrete strength from 20 to 80 MPa, for a fixed reinforcement ratio of 0.2% in low‐rise buildings. A 10% to 19% reduction in embodied carbon for high‐rise buildings (50 stories) is possible under similar conditions. Minimum reinforcement requirements and slenderness constraints limit optimization potential but remain critical for structural safety. These results demonstrate that high‐strength concrete combined with minimal reinforcement yields the lowest embodied carbon, despite practical constraints such as cost and fire performance. Structural engineers must integrate these principles into design practices to align with emerging guidelines (e.g., fib Model Code 2020) and achieve net‐zero targets.