In Finland, where forests are literally everywhere, using wood for buildings makes sense. Research there showed that materials like concrete and steel had a larger “environmental footprint” than wood. This fact hasn’t been overlooked by the organization that represent the concrete and cement segment.

The (PCA) Portland Cement Assn., representing cement manufacturers in the United States, has initiated an industry-wide project to reduce carbon emissions and further address the impacts of climate change. Members will continue to drive down the carbon intensity of their operations and products, and PCA is developing a roadmap, due by the end of 2021, to facilitate its member companies achieving carbon neutrality across the concrete value chain by 2050.

Industries, environmental groups, and local governments across the U.S. are increasingly working to mitigate the effects of climate change and create a more sustainable future, and this roadmap positions the cement and concrete industry as the leader in the construction materials sector in delivering cleaner and greener infrastructure.

Concrete provides energy efficiency and lower lifecycle costs, is long lasting, durable and stands up against natural and man-made disasters. By continuing to drive down emissions and striving for carbon neutrality, cement manufacturers are expanding the positive impact that concrete has on communities. For example, the sustainable benefits of Portland-limestone cement, engineered with more limestone, performs comparably to Type I Portland cement with up to 10% less greenhouse gas emissions.

PCA believes that concrete is critical to building a sustainable future, and they will identify how to address the challenges that stand in the way of driving down emissions to achieve carbon neutrality, such as developing advanced technologies to reduce energy consumption, and developing and adopting regulations to allow for such technologies. Since 1990, the industry has reduced energy consumption by 35%, emissions intensity by 11% while their improvements have led to the increased use of alternative fuels, such as industrial byproducts that otherwise would end up in landfills.

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