Cooler, Greener, Smarter

Extreme weather events are causing higher temperatures and flash floods in urban areas – due in large part to a growing footprint of conventional concrete surfaces, which trap heat and block rain from soaking into the ground. Permcon offers a solution

As highlighted in the BRANZ article on pages 10-11 of this magazine, we can’t keep paving our cities the same way – we need smarter, greener, infrastructure.

Permcon permeable concrete offers a practical way forward. It looks like regular concrete but works very differently, allowing water to soak through, reducing runoff and easing pressure on pipes and drains. Underneath, the water can filter into the ground or flow through a drainage layer – helping recharge soil, support trees and plants, and protect waterways.

Benefits that landscapers love

Because Permcon works like a ‘soft surface’ hydrologically, it often means less need for large rain gardens, retention tanks or expensive stormwater infrastructure. That means greater design flexibility and more usable space on site.

Permcon also helps protect tree roots by letting air and moisture reach the soil beneath.

This aligns with University of Auckland research, which calls for better ways to support living soil systems in urban areas (see pages 12-13).

In the article, Engineering and Design student Sue Ira states that: “If we want resilient, green, alive and liveable cities, we need to start thinking beneath the surface.“ She calls for “soils that breathe, that teem with microbes, worms and roots”.

Permeable concrete is designed to work with soil, not against it. Permcon’s permeable concrete solutions allow water, air and nutrients to pass through to the underlying soil, maintaining the conditions needed for life below the surface.

An additional benefit is that underlying soil doesn’t need to be compacted before installation.

The negative impact of soil compaction is the key focus of Ira’s research.

Introducing Permcon Carbonlow™

In addition to Permcon’s inherent environmental benefits, Permcon CarbonLow™ offers proven performance with lower carbon content – and it can be specified and installed in exactly the same way as the standard Permcon mix. Designed to reduce embodied carbon by up to 30%,

Designed to reduce embodied carbon by up to 30%, Permcon CarbonLow™ is a low-carbon

version of our industry-proven permeable concrete, delivering the same strength, durability

and permeability customers expect.

Carbon reduction is achieved by replacing up to 30% of Portland cement with fly ash or

ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) – two supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that enhance long-term performance.

Developed using lifecycle modelling aligned with EPD and ISO 14040/44 standards,

Permcon CarbonLow™ supports climate-aligned infrastructure goals without requiring changes to existing specifications or construction methods.

Future-ready surfaces

Researchers agree that urban landscapes need surfaces that work with nature, not against it. Permcon permeable concrete systems are part of the solution, making it easier to design landscapes with lower carbon footprints that meet the demands of a changing climate.

For landscapers, councils and developers, that means fewer compromises, simpler stormwater design, and a better outcome for the environment and communities alike.