Our society's vast concrete consumption means even small changes to its formulation can significantly reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint. Studies show that the embodied carbon of concrete makes up for 6-8% of the yearly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The good news is that decarbonized concrete is already possible today and it should be part of any project plan as it contributes to a more sustainable built environment. Today, we introduce Shirin Fataei, our Global Sustainability Manager, who will discuss how to achieve low-carbon concrete design.
Shirin, we recently published our Sustainability Report 2022, what is its main message?
Master Builders Solutions has the expertise and product portfolio to achieve our customers' sustainable construction ambitions. For instance, in Chapter 3, we explain in more detail the products that we offer to enable sustainable construction and highlight selected projects showcasing performance benefits. There is an increasing global demand for carbon reduction and resource-efficient options to meet challenging climate goals. This is coupled with evolving regulations supporting the shift to a lower carbon future. We partner with our customers to meet these challenges efficiently and competitively.
How is it possible to achieve these sustainable benefits using Master Builders Solutions' concrete admixture solutions?
We have a wide range of specialized and tailor-made admixtures to meet the sustainability requirements of the market. For instance, the use of our high-performance water reducers enables lower clinker and water consumption, resulting in concrete with a lower embodied carbon content. Alternatively, the use of our Master X-Seed hardening accelerator allows precast concrete producers to cure without the need of heat generated from fossil fuels, along with the possibility to switch to a low-clinker cement or replace cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs).
The environmental benefits of most of our solutions can be easily quantified and compared using a reference solution and sophisticated tools. To increase transparency and ensure a consistent calculation process, we have introduced the ECO²NOW™ app. The app enables the calculation of the embodied carbon content of concrete and concrete elements on site together with our customers while displaying the ecological and economic benefits of an optimized concrete mix containing our products.
What advice would you give to a customer considering more sustainable construction?
Over the last few years, we have collaborated with customers and planners to enable sustainable construction using low-carbon concrete solutions. We know the capabilities of our products and are able to tailor admixtures to individual project requirements. Whether you're a precast manufacturer, working for a ready-mix concrete plant, or you're an architect, engineer, real estate developer, or university researcher - we have the solution and are happy to support you.
Many Thanks, Shirin, for the interview!