Life-cycle inventory analysis of concrete production: A critical review

A. Petek Gursel; Eric Masanet; Arpad Horvath; Alex Stadel

doi:10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.03.005

Life-cycle inventory analysis of concrete production: A critical review

A. Petek Gursel^*, Eric Masanet, Arpad Horvath, Alex Stadel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

339 Scopus citations

Abstract

Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials with a global consumption rate approaching 25 gigatonnes per year. Consequentially, its environmental burden is significant in terms of resource use and environmental emissions. There is a diverse audience of decision makers and manufacturers who are interested in understanding and lowering the environmental impact of concrete and other buildings materials, which requires a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. A critical first step in any LCA is the compilation of a credible life-cycle inventory (LCI), upon which subsequent life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) can be based. This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of concrete LCIs to date, and offers a research roadmap to improve the quality of future cement and concrete LCIs and meet the needs of major LCA users.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	38-48
Number of pages	11
Journal	Cement and Concrete Composites
Volume	51
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.03.005
State	Published - Aug 2014

Keywords

Admixture (D)
Cement manufacture (E)
Concrete (E)
Life-cycle inventory analysis (LCI)
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Building and Construction
General Materials Science

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.03.005

Cite this

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title = "Life-cycle inventory analysis of concrete production: A critical review",

abstract = "Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials with a global consumption rate approaching 25 gigatonnes per year. Consequentially, its environmental burden is significant in terms of resource use and environmental emissions. There is a diverse audience of decision makers and manufacturers who are interested in understanding and lowering the environmental impact of concrete and other buildings materials, which requires a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. A critical first step in any LCA is the compilation of a credible life-cycle inventory (LCI), upon which subsequent life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) can be based. This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of concrete LCIs to date, and offers a research roadmap to improve the quality of future cement and concrete LCIs and meet the needs of major LCA users.",

keywords = "Admixture (D), Cement manufacture (E), Concrete (E), Life-cycle inventory analysis (LCI), Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)",

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language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Cement and Concrete Composites",

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T1 - Life-cycle inventory analysis of concrete production

T2 - A critical review

AU - Petek Gursel, A.

AU - Masanet, Eric

AU - Horvath, Arpad

AU - Stadel, Alex

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials with a global consumption rate approaching 25 gigatonnes per year. Consequentially, its environmental burden is significant in terms of resource use and environmental emissions. There is a diverse audience of decision makers and manufacturers who are interested in understanding and lowering the environmental impact of concrete and other buildings materials, which requires a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. A critical first step in any LCA is the compilation of a credible life-cycle inventory (LCI), upon which subsequent life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) can be based. This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of concrete LCIs to date, and offers a research roadmap to improve the quality of future cement and concrete LCIs and meet the needs of major LCA users.

AB - Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials with a global consumption rate approaching 25 gigatonnes per year. Consequentially, its environmental burden is significant in terms of resource use and environmental emissions. There is a diverse audience of decision makers and manufacturers who are interested in understanding and lowering the environmental impact of concrete and other buildings materials, which requires a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. A critical first step in any LCA is the compilation of a credible life-cycle inventory (LCI), upon which subsequent life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) can be based. This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of concrete LCIs to date, and offers a research roadmap to improve the quality of future cement and concrete LCIs and meet the needs of major LCA users.

KW - Admixture (D)

KW - Cement manufacture (E)

KW - Concrete (E)

KW - Life-cycle inventory analysis (LCI)

KW - Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)

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JO - Cement and Concrete Composites

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ER -

Life-cycle inventory analysis of concrete production: A critical review

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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