Potential of Earth-Based Bamboo Bio-Concrete in the Search for Circular and Net-Zero Carbon Solutions to Construction Industry

Abstract

In order to limit climate change by achieving goals of cutting emissions down to net-zero by 2050, stronger efforts are needed to reduce the whole life cycle emissions of buildings. Integrating residual bio-based and earth-based solutions to concrete seems to stand out in the sector since these solutions have the potential of lowering materials embodied emissions, and enhancing building thermal performance. However, it is still unclear how environmentally beneficial bio-based and earth-based materials are and how they behave mechanically when they are both integrated into concrete. In order to know their potential applications in the sector, this study aims to evaluate and compare the mechanical performance and environmental profile of Earth-based Bamboo Bio-Concretes (EBBCs) with different earth fractions as partial replacements of the cementitious matrix, by evaluating its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. For that, it was considered the use of only bio-based aggregates (bamboo waste) instead of mineral ones at a fixed volume fraction of 45%. The methodology involved the: processing and characterization of earth and bamboo; EBBCs dosage study and mechanical testing; consideration of fixed proportions of binders of 30:30:40 (cement: metakaolin: fly ash) which were replaced gradually by earth in the volume fractions of 10%, 15%, and 20%. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used for accounting GHG emissions. LCA scope was from cradle-to-gate considering biogenic carbon methodology and avoided impacts of incinerating bamboo waste. A sensitive analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of transport distances variation of bamboo waste. Mechanical results point to an increase in EBBCs compressive strength with the increase of earth content until 15% of cementitious matrix replacement. LCA results showed negative embodied GHG emissions in all mixtures with an average of -115,7 kgCO2-eq/m3 mainly due to the high biomass content in mixtures. The increase of earth content from 0% to 20% in the mixtures reduced emissions by 59,7 kgCO2-eq/m3 since the binder’s content was reduced. With that, EBBC seems to be a promising innovative material to help achieve net-zero carbon emission targets and a circular pathway in the building and construction sectors.