The Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC), in partnership with the University of Queensland, co-organised a dedicated session at the World Resources Forum 2025 on responsible sourcing of sand, silicates, and concrete — the hidden scaffolding of our world. Concrete is the most widely used construction material and the second most consumed material globally after water, relying heavily on sand and coarse aggregates while silicates are also extensively used across the built environment. Yet the sourcing of these materials is often overlooked, despite serious social and environmental costs, including impacts on biodiversity, climate, and human rights.
The session brought together leading experts to explore how supply chain due diligence is evolving in practice for these critical materials. Panelists included:
Isabella Aurich (ZHAW / SGNI), highlighting Swiss perspectives on sustainable building and material sourcing
Maria Eugenia Ceballos Hunziker (Holcim), sharing industry realities and market expectations for responsible concrete and aggregates
Marc Goichot (WWF Asia-Pacific), emphasizing the environmental and social stakes of unsustainable sourcing
Chengchen Qian (Global Infrastructure Basel), discussing how frameworks like the FAST-Infra Label can strengthen due diligence
Cynthia Imesch (CSC), presenting how CSC certification tools make responsible sourcing measurable and credible, while noting remaining barriers
Daniel Boero (World Economic Forum / First Movers Coalition), sharing lessons on engaging the construction sector to drive practice changes
Participants engaged in interactive discussions on shared priorities, barriers, and opportunities for action. The session highlighted that connecting responsible sourcing practices with broader built environment goals — through standards, certification, and collaboration — is essential to ensure these materials are produced and used sustainably.
The session concluded with a clear message: responsible sourcing must move from being overlooked to becoming standard practice, and CSC will continue to champion this conversation across the sector.