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CONCRETE
THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY PASSES THROUGH CONCRETE
Matthew Smith, Associate Head of School, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society at HeriotWatt University Dubai, shares his thoughts and insights on improving sustainability in the concrete industry 10 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST 2021
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he global population boom has resulted in rapid urbanisation in the last century. And urbanisation means a massive uptick in construction, which creates the rampant need for concrete, one of the most widely used materials in the Built Environment. In fact, according to ResearchGate, 10 billion tons of concrete is produced worldwide annually. Furthermore, it is noted that after water, concrete is the most widely used substance on Earth. All these statistics point towards one conclusion, as the world grows, so does our dependency on concrete. To the extent that production and usage of concrete is responsible for 8 per cent of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere, a huge amount compared to 2.5 per cent of the aviation industry. Concrete’s contribution of carbon dioxide is comparable to the entire agriculture industry, which is responsible for 9 percent of carbon emissions. The concrete industry needs an overhaul, potentially through the coming together of the industry and governments, focusing on innovation, and enhancing product standards. As a growing industry, it is imperative for it to become sustainable and positively impact the environment. The biggest challenge for the concrete industry is to serve the two key needs of the society - sustainability and the increasing need for building infrastructures. In this backdrop, Matthew Smith, Associate Head of School, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, shares his thoughts and insights on improving sustainability in the concrete industry. LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE The analysis of the overall environmental impacts of concrete manufacturing and its application in building projects requires a holistic approach that is known as life-cycle assessment (LCA). Additionally, it is important to assess the life cycle of concrete structures to better understand its environmental impact. Cement, aggregate, and water WWW.CBNME.COM
