Over the last 100 years, concrete has been integral to the built environment, creating our schools, homes and roads. Across the world we use 30 billion tons of concrete each year and demand only continues to grow. As global industry looks to reduce emissions and improve circularity, will concrete continue to play a role in the future of construction?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the buildings and construction sector accounted for 37 percent of global energy and process related CO2 emissions in 2021. As a result, the UN called for the built environment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Decarbonizing the industry is important, but contractors must find a way to balance improving sustainability with other industry priorities, such as delivering durable, profitable and timely projects.