Sustainable Concrete: A Growing Construction Trend in 2025

Concrete has long been an important component in the world of construction. In fact, its use dates back more than 9,000 years based on some historical accounts. In the early days, different cultures created their own versions of this material using resources that were available to them. Now, though, it's a highly standardized material that's a perfect choice for countless construction needs.

According to recent reports, concrete is one of the most widely used products in the world. To put matters into perspective, it's second only to water. An estimated 30 billion tons of this material are used each year by concrete contractors in albuquerque and elsewhere across the globe. The growing demand for new construction is expected to drive that figure even higher in the years to come. Of course, with the movement toward more sustainable building practices and materials underway, the need for greener alternatives to conventional concrete is also on the rise.

Why Is Concrete Such a Popular Building Material?

You may be wondering why concrete is such a popular building material, especially considering all the options on the market right now. In truth, it has numerous strong suits that make it an attractive choice for contractors and their clients. For one, it's extremely strong with a weight-bearing capacity that few materials can match, especially considering its relatively light weight. It's also an energy-efficient material. It can absorb and store heat, which may lead to lower heating and cooling costs.

At the same time, concrete lasts a long time. It can easily withstand moisture, extreme temperatures, high winds, and other hazards, and it has been known to last for anywhere from 50 to 100 years or more. It doesn't require a great deal of maintenance, either. It's fire resistant, and it provides excellent sound insulation. Concrete is also one of the most versatile building materials on the market. On top of all that, it's an affordable material that easily pays for itself over time with its many benefits.

Why Isn't Concrete a Sustainable Material?

You might think that concrete is a highly sustainable material. After all, it doesn't crumble and need to be replaced every few years. It can hold its own against fires, severe weather, natural disasters, and other issues. Buildings that are made of concrete can continually be repurposed instead of needing to be torn down. In light of its energy efficiency, it can also reduce the amount of energy people need to use for heating and cooling. Additionally, used concrete can be ground up and used as aggregate for new concrete.

Those are all certainly good qualities to have. They're some of the reasons why concrete remains such a popular material to use in construction. Still, it also has some environmental drawbacks that are worth considering.

Excessive Carbon Emissions

For one, producing concrete generates excessive emissions. This process is responsible for about eight percent of humanity's carbon dioxide emissions according to some reports. Chemical changes that take place in the process are part of the problem, but the fossil fuels burned along the way also create harmful greenhouse gases. That's only one factor to think about, though.

Producing concrete also requires massive amounts of resources, especially considering the sheer volume of concrete we use each year. That includes sand and gravel, both of which are being rapidly depleted. Mining sand alone is causing significant environmental damage to beaches, bodies of water, and marine ecosystems. Though some concrete gets recycled to make new aggregates, it's not yet enough to offset the impacts of production.

Additionally, making concrete requires exorbitant amounts of water, which is another resource that's growing increasingly scarce. Earth's growing population, increasing pollution, and many other issues are placing a great deal of strain on our freshwater supply, which was already limited to begin with. Furthermore, the use of concrete in so many buildings is contributing to the growing urban island effect because of its ability to store heat.

Looking at More Sustainable Forms of Concrete

With all of that being the case, the race is on to find more sustainable forms of concrete. Several have already been developed and are currently being used in construction. Many more alternatives are also being explored. Take a look at some of the more environmentally friendly solutions we have so far.

Green Concrete

Green concrete uses waste materials that would otherwise be discarded as substitutes for cement. Those include plastic waste, crushed glass, and certain industrial byproducts. This alternative requires less sand and gravel to produce, and the process of creating it is less energy intensive than that of producing conventional concrete.

Ashcrete

Producing ashcrete also requires less energy and fewer resources. It's made using fly ash that comes from burning coal, which is a useful and creative way to repurpose a readily available waste product. This ash reduces the need for sand in concrete production, and it makes for a sturdy, durable product. It reduces the amount of waste that lingers in the environment without sacrificing quality and reliability.

Geopolymer Concrete

Geopolymer concrete uses fly ash and slag instead of Portland cement. That combination of ingredients gives it exceptional strength and heat resistance. Producing geopolymer cement helps with managing industrial waste streams in multiple ways. It also reduces carbon emissions by up to 80 percent when compared to the process of making conventional concrete.

Hempcrete

Yet another alternative to traditional concrete is hempcrete. It's made from hemp fibers, water, and lime. Instead of generating CO2 emissions, it actually absorbs carbon dioxide while it's curing and throughout its lifespan. It's a lightweight material with insulative properties, but it's not quite sturdy enough to use for load-bearing walls and other applications that require a great deal of strength.

Taking Concrete Into the Future

Concrete is such an integral component in construction that the world can't live without it at this point. It's not the most environmentally friendly product on the market, but more sustainable alternatives to the norm are being created. From greener products to more sustainable production methods, the future will be filled with materials that offer the same properties as conventional concrete without having as much of an impact on the environment.