Low carbon technologies to be challenged in the supply chain of concrete structures

Abstract

<p>Cement used in structural concrete accounts for 60% of all cement. Thus, the amount of CO2 emission by cement in structural concrete in a year is about 5% of the amount emitted by mankind. LCA of structural concrete should consider not only the materials at the product stage but also the maintenance phase at the use stage after construction. A rough indicator is presented to grasp the CO2 emissions of structural concrete. And low-carbon technologies currently in use is introduced. Then the need for multi-cycle structural concrete with a circular economy is presented. Moreover, it is estimated that CO2 emissions due to disasters in the use stage could be enormous. The carbon neutrality of structural concrete is not a risk but an opportunity for us.</p>