Abstract
Achieving sustainability of all human actions has been recognized as an urgent and top priority since the warnings of anthropogenic climate change are overwhelming. However, the precise goal, aim and method of shifting the global paradigm towards sustainability are still contested. Among all human activities, the concrete industry has one of the largest environmental footprints, not only because concrete is the second most used material in the world, but also because the production of cement for concrete is highly energy-intensive and inevitably releases large amounts of CO2. In this paper, a historic and theoretical background to the environmental problems, arising from the production and use of concrete, is presented. The specific problems it poses are recognized as natural resource consumption, CO2 emissions, and waste generation. A technical discussion based on Life Cycle Assessment analyses is presented alongside a societal interpretation within the framework of common resource and externality management. Possible technical solutions in the form of recycling waste concrete and replacing cement with industrial by-products are presented and finally, a necessity for a shift towards a holistic and environmental paradigm is highlighted.
Highlights
Sustainability, as a keyword in many areas, has become ever present in our society today
Even though early finding suggest types of concrete were used in many ancient civilizations - from Egypt to Rome - the modern story of concrete begins in the 18th century and the patent for Portland cement obtained by Johnson Aspden in 1824
Lowers demand for natural aggregates and on the other, reduces the amount of construction and demolition waste (CDW). Another approach is concentrated on reducing concrete’s environmental impact through the reduction of cement use. This is mainly achieved by using so-called supplementary cementitious materials, of which the most widespread are blast furnace slag and fly ash
Summary
Sustainability, as a keyword in many areas, has become ever present in our society today. The Rio Declaration from 1992 states as its first principle that “Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development” [1]. Sustainability can be seen as an endeavour to maintain the species Homo sapiens. Making an impact on the planet that will be felt for millennia, and in the process endangering its own existence and the existence of other species. A significant way in which our impact is realized is through the built environment-through the structures we build and use. The construction industry itself is responsible for one of the largest impacts of all human activities: 40% of raw stone, gravel and sand consumption, 25% of virgin wood, 40% of total energy and 16% of annual water consumption [3]
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