The Sustainable Concrete Cube Competition Returns for 2026
Entries are now open for the 2026 Sustainable Concrete Cube Competition, hosted by the University of Surrey and supported Tony Gee, Mace, the Institute of Concrete Technology, SYPro Group, the Temporary Works Forum (TWf) and The Concrete Centre.
The competition invites students and recent graduates with an interest in sustainability and concrete innovation to put their concrete design and mixing skills to the test.
Teams will compete to create the strongest and most sustainable concrete cube, aiming to balance structural performance with carbon reduction. The competition will take place across two sessions to allow for strength to be accurately assessed:
Wednesday 21 October: Concrete design and cube production
Wednesday 28 October: Concrete testing and team presentations
The competition provides participants with an opportunity to explore and test innovative low-carbon concrete solutions, helping to bridge the gap between academic research and practical industry application.
Past participants have praised the event for its combination of technical challenge and collaboration. Dan Bompa, Associate Professor at the University of Surrey, described it as:
“A truly successful sustainable event, combining an engaging atmosphere, lively discussion, and an inspiring display of creativity and technical insight.”
Cash prizes will be awarded across three categories:
Strongest Cube
Lowest Carbon Content
Best Presentation
Students and graduates interested in sustainable construction are encouraged to enter and showcase their technical expertise, creativity and commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the built environment.
The event supports ongoing industry efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. Tony Gee has been at the forefront of challenging traditional approaches to temporary works concrete design. Natalie Cropp, Mark Scrivener and Rebecca Woodhouse have been active members of the Temporary Works Forum (TWf) Low Carbon Working Group (WG32) since its formation. Following the presentation of their initial findings on low-carbon temporary works concrete in December 2024, the group is now developing formal industry guidance that is expected to be published by the TWf.
