Sustainable Construction: Innovations in Low-Carbon Concrete Technology

With the rapid pace of urbanization and the rising global population, a substantial increase in CO2 emissions has emerged as a key driver of climate change. Concrete - the world's second most consumed material after water - is fundamental to modern society. However, its production accounts for 8% of global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. Despite efforts to mitigate these emissions, the construction sector's CO2 output has surged, particularly following the pandemic. This talk introduces several innovative strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of concrete in sustainable construction. For instance, one strategy involves transforming concrete into a carbon sink by utilizing gaseous CO2 at various stages of its lifecycle as different functional agents. In addition to enhancing the performance of concrete, this greenhouse gas can be permanently sequestered within the concrete matrix. Additionally, the feasibility of using major urban solid wastes, such as incineration bottom ash, waste glass, and waste concrete, as raw materials for concrete production is explored. The vast demand for concrete provides an attractive outlet for these solid wastes, which would otherwise end up in landfills. Low-carbon 3D concrete printing technology, with the potential to advance automation and digitalization in concrete production, will also be introduced.