FACTS: Top 10 facts about conventional Concrete

A sustainable zero-carbon global economy rests on Concrete, because it is the world’s most-used building material.

Here are the top 10 facts to know about conventional concrete

1. Over 90% of the construction sector’s emissions can in fact be attributed to the process of making cement“clinker” – a key element of concrete.
2. High-quality concrete can be produced with the use of more than 90% of aggregates made from recycled concrete
3. Government infrastructure consumes at least a quarter of the ready mix concrete purchased worldwide.
4. Cement is so carbon intensive that if it were a country it would be ranked 4th as a climate polluter
5. 70% of the World population lives in a building made with Concrete
6. Roughly 600 kilograms of carbon dioxide are released per ton of cement produced. 
7. Up to 8% of all global anthropogenic human-made emissions are due to just one material, cement. 
8. 25 billion tonnes of Concrete are used every year.
9. It consumes about 30% of non-renewable natural resources
10. In an average city, concrete makes up 80% of the built environment

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As demonstrated above concrete is ubiquitous, versatile, affordable, durable, strong and recyclable. It will provide the foundations for our green energy systems, for climate-resilient infrastructure, for safe, healthy, and secure housing, for clean water and for low-carbon transportation around the world. It will be central to meeting many of the world’s Sustainable Development Goals.