Sustainable alternatives to CO2 reduction in the cement industry: A short review

Cement is the most used material around the world just after water. However, cement industry is a significant source of greenhouse effect gases comprising 8–10% of worldwide production. To mitigate environmental impacts associated to cement production, many sustainable alternatives such as energy efficiency, sustainable fuels, CO2 capture and use, cement use efficiency and substituting clinker by mineral additions or Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) have been proposed. In this regard, Fine Recycled Concrete (FRC) as SCM has proven to be a feasible alternative, considering its high availability during recycled aggregate production. Many studies have demonstrated their feasibility to be used as a substitute for cement. In addition, demolition and subsequent concrete grinding includes an exposed surface greater than a built structure, and CO2 uptake in FRC could be significant. This article shows a brief review about proposals to mitigate environmental impacts related to the cement industry, especially emphasized on FRC.