Concrete returns

Laying the foundations for a decarbonised cement industry

“The most important material in terms of sheer mass in our civilization.” - Vaclav Smil

Photo by Ivan Bandura on Unsplash

Concrete is the second most commonly used product in the world, after potable water. It is used in almost everything we build, from bridges to skyscrapers and from wind turbines to hydroelectric dams. It is both the past, and the future.

Cement is the vital ingredient in concrete, acting as a binder between aggregates. While cement makes up only a small percentage of the concrete mix (~12% by volume), it is almost exclusively responsible for the resulting carbon emissions.

Unfortunately, cement is one of the largest global sources of carbon emissions. The cement industry is responsible for emitting some 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon each year, accounting for some 6-8% of global CO2 emissions.