Discussion on the effectiveness of cement replacement for carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction in concrete

The environmental impact of concrete has become a significant matter of interest because many ready-mix concrete producers are now requiring sustainability. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are often used as an evaluation parameter to identify the environmental impacts of concrete production. However, there are very few reliable estimates available for the practical determination of CO2 emissions in terms of all concrete constituents at concrete production stage. The aim of this study is therefore to provide data collected from raw-material manufacturers and ready-mix concrete plants so that practical estimates can be made for CO2 emissions and resulting environmental impacts. Resultswill be evaluatedin terms of raw materials, production, and transportation, in order to identify the potentially significant sources of CO2 emissions. Emission results from the concrete production with ordinary Portland cement, blended cement and cement replacementwith fly ash and slag were also examined, in order to gain further understanding of their efficiency in reducing CO2 emissions. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.