NEWS: Circular solutions are vital to curb enviro harm from cement and concrete

Demand for cement and concrete is set to grow, especially in developing countries to improve infrastructure and living standards. Experts say that solutions reigning in the sector’s environmental footprint are vital, especially curbing greenhouse gas emissions that could absorb a major chunk of our remaining carbon budget.

A hardhatNEWS article highlights the detrimental environmental impact of cement and concrete production on climate change, human health, and biodiversity. Cement manufacturing, particularly, contributes significantly to global carbon emissions due to the high energy consumption and chemical processes involved. The growing demand for cement and concrete, especially in developing countries, further exacerbates these challenges.

The article emphasizes the urgent need for circular solutions to address the environmental threats posed by the cement and concrete supply chain. Experts suggest a combination of technological advancements, material changes, improved resource efficiency, and circular economy approaches. These include electrifying cement kilns, utilizing low-carbon concrete, implementing carbon capture technologies, and exploring natural building materials. Additionally, reducing concrete waste through recycling and reusing building materials is also essential.

The article also acknowledges that six of the nine planetary boundaries, including climate change, biodiversity integrity, nitrogen and phosphorus emissions, novel entities, freshwater change, and land system change, have already been crossed due to the environmental impacts of cement and concrete production. It underscores the importance of public procurement of infrastructure and the role of governments in prioritizing low-carbon solutions for new building projects.

The full hardhatNEWS article was published on Mongabay

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