Concrete innovation: a deep dive into the long-term impacts of cement

By Macenzie Rebelo
Canadian Contractor
September 24, 2024
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

Concrete has been the most relied upon and used building material not only in Canada but the entire world. In fact, concrete is the second most consumed material in the world next to water. Concrete provides structural benefits due to its reliability and durability. …It is also highly accessible, which makes it cost-effective and affordable. However, the cement industry is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gases and Canada produces approximately 60 million tonnes of concrete each year, explains the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC). …According to the CAGBC, a way to reduce embodied carbon in concrete is to add supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) to concrete mixes, reducing the amount of cement. …Timber is also a common substitute for concrete entirely and in the last decade, there has been a push across the nation to build with mass timber. 

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