Achieving Sustainability in Concrete and Construction: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The materials used for the construction of buildings and civil infrastructures play a critical role in pursuing sustainability. Nowadays, the term ‘sustainability’ does not just indicate the basic concept of recycling or reusing materials but rather has expanded to innovations and responsible and proactive decision-making processes that can balance the environmental impacts, economic growth, and social values. For the continued prosperity of society and the well-being of our planet, there is an urgent need to pursue sustainable practices throughout the civil engineering and construction industry. Among various construction materials, concrete has substantial upfront environmental costs. Yet, its durability, good workability, and recycling potential can counteract this effect relative to other materials such as wood and steel. In recent decades, numerous researchers have searched for alternative solutions to conventional concrete that can reduce environmental impacts and contribute to moving the civil engineering sector towards achieving the goal of sustainability. This paper discusses various approaches and efforts that have been taken to develop sustainable solutions with the main focus on sustainable concrete. Also presented are some of the environmental concerns of cement and concrete production.