21 sometimes from biomass, partly replacing fossil fuels. Furthermore, several levers exist to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint: adding activators in cement formulation, allowing for a reduction in clinker quantity (with equivalent performance), and admixtures. Through this, companies like Chryso, for example, enable Hoffmann Green to deploy a cement with a carbon footprint divided by five. Alongside efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete, we also need to use less of it. Light construction, by limiting its use to the load-bearing structure and foundations, can significantly reduce concrete consumption in new buildings… WOOD AND BIO-SOURCED MATERIALS…WHY THEY CANONLY BE A COMPLEMENT Should alternatives be sought from wood and bio-sourced materials? Wood, straw, hemp, and raw earth undoubtedly have their place in the mix of materials for more sustainable construction. But given the needs of the construction sector in terms of volume, cost and productivity, can we be sure of the feasibility of a total switchover to these solutions? Indeed, by 2050, an additional 2 billion humans will inhabit the Earth, and construction needs to be fast and not (too) expensive. Forests are fragile carbon sinks. The various uses to which soils are put, notably for human consumption, must also be preserved. Thus, these solutions are undoubtedly complementary, but in any case, cannot completely replace concrete. The future is more likely to lie in mixed use, for example with structures combining wood, concrete or steel. And to coexistence with traditional materials with a high recycled content and a very low carbon footprint. Lightweight construction significantly reduces concrete consumption. LISTEN to episode 11 of our Constructing NewWor(l)ds podcast on Clinkerisation.
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