Low-Carbon Material: A Solution for the World

Created By RISC | 2 years ago

Last modified date : 2 years ago

RISC 5 Research Hubs: Materials & Resources Hub

You might guess that manufacturing emits the most carbon dioxide, given the smoke that billows from factory chimneys. ​

But construction has a larger carbon footprint, contributing 39% of all global emissions, according to UNEP data from 2020. The sector generates 28% of the world’s carbon emissions from operations and 11% from the materials and other products it uses (embodied carbon). ​

The International Energy Agency (IEA) calls for construction to cut its CO₂ emissions from operations by 60% and embodied carbon by 50% by 2030 to achieve net zero by 2050. Low-carbon materials are emerging to address this need. ​

Low-carbon materials minimize their carbon footprint through how they are procured, produced, transported, and used. Post-use management is also taken into consideration for products to pass a life cycle assessment (LCA). ​

In place of fossil fuels with high carbon emissions, low-carbon materials tend to use natural raw materials like wood, agricultural waste, or recycled materials. Here are some examples…​

Concrete is a primary building material, vital even in current constructions. But it emits a lot of carbon from cement manufacturing. This major obstacle to 2050 Net Zero inspired researchers to create low-carbon concrete. Steel slag is used in place of cement. A new technology accelerates concrete's hardening by injecting carbon dioxide, storing carbon while making the material stronger. ​

Wooden materials have recently regained popularity in Thailand and other countries. Wood is part of structures and interiors. Trees grow using carbon dioxide from photosynthesis so they are natural carbon stores. Wood has a lower carbon footprint than other materials. Amorim cork flooring, for example, is made by stripping the tree’s dead outer bark every 10 years, resulting in a carbon-negative product with emissions of -193 kg CO₂eq/m². ​

Net Zero by 2050 requires all of us to work together. Manufacturers must create products that meet our needs while helping solve environmental issues. We must also take care to pick products that emit as little carbon dioxide as possible. ​

Story by: Supunnapang Raksawong, Materials Researcher in Sustainable Building Material, RISC

References:​
https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/12/carbon-emissions-from-buildings-need-to-be-tackled-now-un-urges/ ​
https://www.amorimwise.co.uk/
https://carbicrete.com/technology/​