Cement, Energy and Environment

Concrete- The Backbone of Sustainable Construction Koen Coppenholle CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Association Concrete is the second most widely used man– made material in the world. It is deeply rooted in our daily lives, providing the infinitely mouldable "liquid stone" for long-lived, solid foundations and the strong backbone of mankind's built environment. Its unique characteristics offer the potential to make a major contribution to truly sustainable construction/ That is why The Concrete Initiative has been established. It is a project led by CEMBUREAU (the European Cement Association), BIBM (the European Federation of Precast Concrete), ERMCO (the European Ready-Mixed Concrete Organisation) and UEPG, the European Aggregates Association. The goal is to promote the combined economic, social and environmental contributions of concrete to accelerating development and uptake of sustainable construction practices in the EU. The Concrete Initiative Concrete is the most widely-used onstruction material in the world. It is part of our everyday lives. However, its ubiquitous nature often means it is taken for granted. The Concrete Initiative aims to increase awareness of its essential role in creating a sustainable construction sector in Europe. The Concrete Initiative is a project led by CEMBUREAU (the European Cement Association), BIBM (the European Federation of Pre-cast Concrete), ERMCO (the European Ready-Mixed Concrete Organisation) and UEPG, the European Aggregates Association. The Concrete Initiative wishes to engage with stakeholders on the issue of sustainable con– struction, and in particular the barriers and solu– tions to harness concrete's multiple benefits. This document examines the economic, social and environmental implications of sustainable construction and the need for a balanced approach among these three pillars. It shows how the construction industry, including concrete , can help find solutions to Europe's challenges. This means increasing understanding of the significant role of concrete in all three areas of sustainable construction . This publication therefore also outlines the benefits of sustainable concrete construction to Europe, as well as revealing some surprising facts, figures and examples on the key attributes of concrete. The Concrete Initiative's manifesto has three objectives. Firstly, it seeks to encourage policy measures and standards that stimulate growth and innovation. Secondly, it sets out to improve the environmental and social impacts of the industry. Finally, it lays out the Concrete Initiative's commitments towards Europe's sustainable future. The three pillars of sustainable construction Society Towards smart cities According to the European Commission, 75% of the EU population live in towns and cities. Demo-graphic trends suggest this proportion will continue to increase. Living space will be at a premium. This presents a range of challenges, including the need for housing, water and sanitation, energy supply and transport infrastructure. 1