Cutting the carbon: the future of concrete | foresight.skanska.com
Decarbonizing construction

Cutting the carbon: the future of concrete

Concrete is the backbone of modern construction, shaping everything from bridges to buildings. But as widely used as it is, concrete production also comes with a hefty environmental cost, especially when it comes to CO2 emissions. In our latest podcast, "Getting Carbon Out of Concrete," we talk with industry leaders about the exciting innovations driving us toward a more sustainable future with this essential material.

Innovations are paving the way


Dr. Bob Slansky, Head of Technical Research and Innovations at Skanska Central Europe, dives into one of the biggest challenges we face with concrete: its carbon footprint. 
  
Clinker, a key component in cement, is responsible for a significant portion of concrete’s CO2 emissions. But the industry isn’t standing still. The adoption of new technologies, reducing the amount of clinker, and mixing in supplementary cementitious materials like slag and fly ash, can reduce the concrete’s carbon emissions by up to 10-40 percent.

  
Moving toward circularity 

 

Circularity—reducing waste by reusing materials—has become a big focus in construction, helping to preserve resources while reducing environmental impact.
 
He also discusses Rebetong, our initiative that replaces natural aggregates in concrete with recycled construction waste, cutting material costs by up to 15 percent.  

Carbon capture on the horizon


Karen Comstedt Webb and Dr. Wolfgang Dienemann from Heidelberg Materials bring us up to speed with one of the newest material innovations: carbon capture technology. At their facility in Brevik, Norway, they’re getting ready to launch the first large-scale carbon capture system in the cement industry. This technology captures CO2 before it’s released into the atmosphere, making it possible to produce evoZero, the world’s first net-zero cement.
 

The future of low-carbon concrete


Looking ahead, we can expect concrete mixes tailored to specific needs, with less clinker and more alternative materials like biochar, which can store carbon within the concrete itself. This shift towards specialized, low-carbon solutions signals a future where concrete remains a staple of construction, but in a way that’s far more sustainable. The direction is clear: a future that's all about innovation, long-term thinking, and circularity. 

 

For more details and expert insights, tune in to the full episode of Shaping Sustainable Places on Spotify , Apple Podcasts or YouTube.