Why sustainable concrete cannot penetrate concrete markets

Abstract

Several studies have shown that sustainable concrete mixtures could be a solution to reduce the CO2 emissions of concrete while utilizing supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that are waste byproducts, including fly ash, metakaolin, and ground granulated blast furnace slag. However, for these sustainable concrete mixtures to be adopted as a replacement for conventional ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPCC), site engineers, decision-makers, and authorities need to be aware of the mechanical and durability properties of these sustainable concrete mixtures. A brief review of the mechanical and durability properties of both geopolymer concrete and alkali-activated cement demonstrates the objective performance relative to OPCC. Then, the results of a survey targeting researchers, site civil engineers, decision-makers, and employees in governmental agencies are presented. The results indicate that even though the mechanical and durability properties of geopolymer/sustainable concrete are recognized, limited awareness and availability present significant challenges to the adoption of sustainability concrete in infrastructure projects. The survey highlights the need for focused marketing efforts to educate decision-makers on the availability as well as mechanical and durability properties of geopolymer concrete. Additionally, it serves as a call for future research to overcome obstacles such as high initial cost, safety concerns, and limited practical applications.