Oral Presentation Ninth International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering 2025

Sustainability Strategies for the Concrete Industry: A Holistic Perspective (113998)

Andrés A. Torres-Acosta 1
  1. School of Engineering and Science, Department of Sustainable Technologies and Civil, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Queretaro, Mexico

In the last 20 years, attempts have been made by various entities (raw material producers, manufacturers, builders) to improve sustainability in the construction industry in an isolated way, without yet seeing a holistic solution. An example is the concrete industry since concrete includes raw materials with diverse manufacturing and supply processes. For example, since 2000, the cement industry has initiated a radical change in the types of cement, reducing the clinker content in its products to reduce CO2 emissions and increase the sustainability of its product (considering that by reducing greenhouse gases they achieve sustainability). However, little is known regarding the possible impact on the durability of concrete structures when making these modifications in the clinker, pozzolana and limestone contents of the new formulations of Mexican cements. A sustainable concrete means that it is a durable concrete, since the appearance of damages that would have to be repaired is reduced, and thus reduce the consumption of more materials during repairs. In this research, certain recommendations will be given to increase the sustainability, or durability, of concrete manufactured with these new cement mixtures that the Mexican market has.