The type of additives in cement could even be changed in such a way that the burning process could be completely eliminated. According to Winnefeld, it is also possible to use mineral construction waste for cement admixtures. The good news is that the sediment of the вЂњurban mineвЂќ from the remains of our disused mobile phones and computers will continue to grow in the future. If the slagвЂ™s heavy metal content complies with the legal standards, this cement could also be used in Switzerland. вЂњThe metallurgical recovery of precious metals from electronic waste leaves a high-quality slag that can also be mixed with cement in powder form,вЂќ explains Winnefeld. Empa researchers are, therefore, breaking new ground and identifying branches of industry whose residues are still little used. Both products can be mixed with cement to help reduce CO 2 emissions.Д«ut these secondary raw materials cannot meet the industryвЂ™s gigantic demand. These include slag from blast furnaces used in the production of pig iron and fly ash left over from coal combustion. In addition to CSA cement, researchers look at substitute constituents that accumulate as waste materials in other industries. Thus, reducing the proportion of limestone is an interesting aspect in developing eco-cement. Limestone is responsible for the bulk of CO 2emissions through a chemical reaction during cement production. A large proportion of the climate advantage of CSA cement is due to the lower amount of limestone in the raw material mix. But the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is not only due to the lower firing temperature.

It requires a firing temperature that is 200 degrees lower and emits around 200 kg less CO 2per ton of cement. A promising candidate is CSA cement made from calcium sulfoaluminate. However, more energy could be saved by using raw materials that require a lower burning temperature. Although fossil fuels can be replaced by alternative energies, вЂњwith an average degree of substitution of 50 percent with todayвЂ™s technologies, the savings potential is already quite exhausted, at least in Europe,вЂќ says Winnefeld. вЂњCement is traditionally burnt in a rotary kiln at around 1450 degrees Celsius,вЂќ says Empa researcher Frank Winnefeld from EmpaвЂ™s ConcreteВ & AsphaltВ lab. Empa researchers are thus working on alternative types of cement and concrete that produce less harmful greenhouse gas or can even bind CO 2. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) also calls for the immediate development and use of new cement-based materials that are more climate-friendly and at the same time cost-effective. So it is high time to look for a cement that offers people housing and infrastructure, but still takes environmental aspects into account and can be produced in line with our climate targets. However, this is likely to increase in future, as demand is growing in Asia and increasingly also in Africa, while production in Europe is more or less stable. The share of global CO 2 emissions caused by the cement industry is currently around seven percent. Every year, we produce around twelve cubic kilometers of concrete worldwide, a quantity that could completely fill Lake Lucerne вЂ“ every year anew. But itвЂ™s the sheer quantity that makes the difference. This is less than in the case of, say, steel or aluminum production. Image: EmpaД§00 kg of carbon dioxide (CO 2) that is emitted in the atmosphere. We sincerely hope that the Eco Impact Calculator can help you and the composites industry to face the opportunities and challenges ahead.ДЇor more information on the Eco Impact Calculator and its development, please go to the Background and disclaimer.Magnesium oxide and hydromagnesite give the mortar its white colour. If you are missing certain crucial materials or processes, please do not hesitate to contact us. The materials and processes are under continuous review for quality and consistency, and new data is added to expand and improve the tool.

A report in pdf-format can be generated that summarizes the impact of the composite product under study. It also allows the user to enter own data, generating a more precise result for individual composite producers. The Eco Impact Calculator incorporates a pre-defined set of materials and processes. Users can calculate, save and export the environmental impacts of as many different composite products and components as they seem fit. This is the EuCIA Eco Impact Calculator for calculating the environmental impact of your composite products from cradle-to-gate: from the raw materials up to the point-of-sale.

Ecoconcrete calculation tool