According to a company statement, the switch will result in a significant reduction in its scope 3 carbon emissions.

Following a research programme co-funded by Laing O’Rourke and Innovate UK, the results have shown that a range of low-carbon concrete options can be successfully deployed on projects as a like-for-like substitute for traditional concrete.

The programme was also conducted in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The overall carbon reduction will be 28 per cent when compared with Laing O’Rourke’s concrete usage in 2022.

This equates to a saving of 14.4 million kg CO2e, which is the same as planting 120,000 trees or 94 hectares of forest.

Cathal O’Rourke, Laing O’Rourke’s newly appointed chief operating officer, said: “We’ve committed to being a net zero company before 2050 and we are looking at every possible measure to accelerate our progress.

“In construction, the greatest challenge is reducing scope 3 emissions – the embodied carbon in purchased materials.”

Low-carbon concrete is said to contain industrial cement and mineral compounds, such as calcined clays, fly ash or blast-furnace slag.

The UK government welcomed the move with Construction and Climate Change Minister, Nusrat Ghani, saying that lowering carbon emissions from concrete is “essential” to attaining net zero carbon by 2050.

"I'm pleased to see the leadership Laing O’Rourke is showing, through innovating and adopting the use of low-carbon concrete on all the construction projects it delivers,” added.