As the backbone of modern construction, concrete is a crucial component in the development of infrastructure, residential buildings, and commercial projects. However, the concrete industry has long been associated with significant environmental concerns, including high carbon emissions, resource depletion, and waste generation.
As the world strives to find more sustainable solutions for construction, it's crucial to examine the environmental impacts of concrete construction and manufacturing, and explore potential methods for mitigating these issues.
In this article, we'll discuss concrete and its environmental issues as well as their consequences. We also present promising solutions that could lead to a more sustainable future.
Read more: How to make concrete more sustainable and read our summary of the PAS 2080.
The production and use of concrete pose a number of environmental challenges, including:
The construction process involving concrete also presents its own set of environmental challenges:
Habitat destruction
The extraction of raw materials for concrete production results in habitat loss and a decline in biodiversity.
Urban heat island effect
Concrete surfaces in urban areas absorb and retain heat, leading to elevated temperatures and exacerbating the effects of climate change.
Water pollution
Runoff from concrete construction sites may contain harmful chemicals and sediments. These may contaminate surrounding water sources.
Waste generation
The demolition of concrete structures creates significant waste that can be difficult to recycle or dispose of responsibly.
Read more: We explain what green concrete is and give examples of popular sustainable concrete mixtures.
The environmental impacts of concrete construction and manufacturing are far-reaching and demand our attention. By exploring innovative technologies and adopting sustainable practices, the concrete industry can work towards a more environmentally-friendly future.
As we continue to rely on concrete for our infrastructure and development, it's crucial that we also invest in environmental concrete. In order to mitigate the environmental impacts of concrete, it's essential for the industry to adopt more sustainable practices. Some potential environmentally friendly solutions include:
The recycling of concrete waste helps to reduce the demand for new materials and the environmental effects that come with their extraction. By turning old concrete into aggregate, we can decrease both waste and the need for new materials.
It's important for industry leaders and governments to invest in recycling facilities and encourage policies that support the use of recycled concrete.
By using technology in concreting, such as ConcreteDNA, the process can become more effective. Sensors can save time, money, and can, among many things, assist in minimising the amount of cement required in a concrete mixture. As most of us know by now, the less cement you use when making concrete, the better for the environment.
Sustainable practices in construction can help to lessen the environmental impacts of concrete. Using precast concrete, which is made off-site and brought to the construction site, can save on materials and reduce waste.
Designing long-lasting structures can also help to cut down on resources used for repair and reconstruction. Other sustainable strategies include modular construction techniques, which allow for easy reuse of components, and integrating eco-friendly technologies like green roofs and solar panels.
The creation of carbon-neutral concrete could help to reduce the high carbon emissions that come with traditional concrete production. This involves using alternative, low-emission cements and adding materials that absorb CO2 to the concrete mix.
Using renewable energy in the production process also helps to lower the carbon footprint. To make carbon-neutral concrete a reality, more investment in research and supportive policies are needed.
Read more: We explain how to use recycled concrete safely.
Webinar on Demand: 'Benefits and challengeS of the maturity method'. Watch this educational webinar, presented by Converge in partnership with Construction News, and discover how technology is supporting the construction industry to build more efficiently and sustainably, with real-time in-situ concrete strength data.
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Converge is partnering with Tarmac, the UK’s leading sustainable construction materials provider.