Cement & Concrete SA logoSustainabilityCement & Concrete SA logoCement & Concrete SA logo
  • About Us
    • CCSA Team
    • Contact us
  • Members
    • Membership Information
    • Academic Members
    • Associate Members
    • Company Members
      • Bronze Members
      • Silver Members
      • Gold Members
      • Partner Members
    • Emerging Contractor Members
    • International Partner
  • Online Directory
  • Cement Industry Matters
  • School of Concrete Technology
  • Information Hub
    • Information Centre
    • Fulton’s Concrete Technology 10th Edition
    • Books For Sale
    • Free Leaflets
    • Concrete Tools
      • cncPave
      • Durability Index
      • Concrete Model
    • Sustainability Reports
      • Concrete, It’s greener than you think
      • InEnergy Report
      • Concrete Benefits
      • Cement Manufacturing Process
      • Sustainability
    • FAQ
      • Cement
      • Concrete Fresh
      • Concrete Hardend
  • Concrete Beton
    • Online Journal
    • Open Access Papers
  • News
  • 2022 Fulton Awards
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • CONCRETEFiX – The Series
    • ConPaveStruc 2023
    • YCRETS 2023
    • Past Events
      • #CCSA 2023 @ WORK
      • CONCRETEFiX – Past Seasons
      • YCRETS 2021
  • Branches
    • Branch Events
      • Inland Branch
      • KZN Branch
      • WC Branch
    • Branch Committees
    • Report Backs
    • CPD Registers
  • Members Login
✕

Sustainability

  • Home
  • Reports
  • Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY IN CONSTRUCTION

While “greenwash” (the practice of making an unsubstantiated or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a product) has become common practice in the marketing world, The Concrete Institute recognised the importance of validating claims concerning the greenness of concrete with integrity and scientific evidence.

To be able to quantify the environmental advantages of concrete, the Institute commissioned InEnergy Africa to determine the CO2 emissions of the most commonly used constituent materials in concrete. i.e. cement, aggregate, water, fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (ggbs) and admixtures, and the processes of production of both precast, and ready mixed concrete. InEnergy was also requested to develop a model to allow users to determine the CO2e (equivalent) from the production of a cubic meter of concrete using various materials.

 

 

CONCRETE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Concrete has a number of inherent characteristics that contribute towards achieving sustainability, whether it is for the benefit of the owner, the developer or the designer

Modern civilisation is built on concrete and as such the positive social impacts are immense. The concrete industry supports and uplifts social infrastructure and provides dignified and durable shelter that all human beings have a right to. To address the economical impact, construction and maintenance costs are monitored to ensure positive life cycle costs. On the environmental side, the energy efficiency and thermal mass of concrete increase sustainability. Case studies can already prove that the recyclability of concrete make it a very attractive option as a construction material.

All things considered, concrete is virtually unequalled in combining the many unique qualities and attributes to make it the responsible choice in construction materials, balancing all the elements for increased sustainability. In fact, concrete is much greener than you think.

 

 

CONCRETE AS A SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE

The use of admixtures which result in a reduction of cement and water content in mixes, together with the use of cement extenders such fly ash, ggbs, and silica fume have for many years been standard practice in the concrete industry, initially only to reduce costs. The use of these materials have however also a pronounced effect on improving the durability and sustainability of concrete.

Precast products such as hollow-core slabs also reduce the volume of in-situ concrete substantially, while the use of the new generation of permeable concrete pavers form part of a responsible water management and safety programme by getting water off the surface of a road and letting it get back into the groundwater. Self-compacting concrete in sustainable developments allows for architectural shapes and forms previously regarded as impossible.

Moreover, new research is producing exciting data on the re-absorption of carbon dioxide by hardened concrete. A Danish study has found that 50% of the volume of concrete will be ‘carbonated’ over 70 years of any building’s service life. This sponge effect makes concrete a more green choice than previously thought, emphasising how global sustainability can be achieved with concrete.

Buy the book!

 

 

More reports

Related posts

June 25, 2021

Cement Manufacturing Process


Read more
March 1, 2021

Concrete Benefits


Read more
March 1, 2021

InEnergy Report


Read more

About Us

Cement & Concrete SA is the consolidated platform for cement and concrete in South Africa.

Quick Links

  • Become a member
  • Concrete Beton
  • Events
  • Information Hub

Legal

  • Website Notice
  • PAIA Manual
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy

Contact Details

+27 (0)11 315-0300

+27 (0)11 592-3910

[email protected]

© 2021-2023 Cement & Concrete SA | All Rights Reserved
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT