Advancing Sustainable Concrete from Research to Real-World Implementation
Bridging Innovation & Practice
The Lab2Slab initiative, a joint effort between UC Pavement Research Center (UCPRC) and UC Davis Materials Decarbonization and Sustainability Center (MDSC), is accelerating the adoption of sustainable concrete technologies through rigorous, stepwise evaluation.
The construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with cement production alone accounting for 7% of global CO₂ emissions. The transition to sustainable concrete, however, has been slow, often taking more than a decade for new materials to reach standard practice.
is changing this by applying a structured, step-wise, comprehensive testing framework to address risk and communicate results with standardized reporting. The goal is to shorten the adoption timeline from 10+ years to just 2–5 years.
Initial funding for the initiative comes from the industry, the American Concrete Institute Foundation (ACI Foundation) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
Learn About Lab2Slab
- Research & Testing
- Publications & Data
- Projects
- People
- Industry Engagement
Our Approach: The Lab2Slab Framework
Lab2Slab follows a structured testing process developed at UCPRC to evaluate new supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and sustainable cements across key performance metrics, including engineering strength, scalability, cost, constructability, and environmental impact.
The initiative moves new materials through a stepwise evaluation process, progressing from laboratory testing to full-scale implementation. This approach allows researchers and industry partners to assess materials in a controlled, data-driven environment before integrating them into real-world projects.
Industry Engagement and Initial Lab2Slab Construction and Monitoring
We invite SCM and cement suppliers to contribute their materials for test track construction. The construction industry is also encouraged to participate by supplying concrete or engaging in test track construction efforts.
Lab2Slab Test Track Initiative
Lab2Slab is is constructing a series of test track slabs, moving from Lab2Slab, beginning in April 2025 to assess the viability of sustainable concrete materials under real-world conditions.
We are committed to transparency and open data sharing, providing all performance and construction data through standardized reporting and open houses to visit the test tracks during construction and performance of the slabs under environmental conditions.