Can concrete be green?

Its generalized use is not without impacts, for example on CO₂ emissions, mainly due to the manufacture of cement, or the production of mineral wastes after deconstruction.

In this context, it is urgent to explore possible ways of producing green concrete. First, our scientists are working on re-using demolition concrete as aggregates, developing ways of treating the con crete that trap the CO₂ in order to improve the quality of the aggregates and the total life cycle emissions of the material. For the more distant future, they are also working on materials that can replace Portland cement, which is the “glue” used in present-day concrete.

Before these new cements and concretes can be used on an industrial scale they must be tested and accepted by the construction sector and demonstrate that they are compatible with modern construction techniques.