The Sustainable Development of the Cement Industry

Abstract

One of the globally accepted principles in the Sustainable Development Strategy is sustainable production and consumption which are including environmental, material and energy efficiency in each stage of production of goods and services, starting from design, production, to primary and secondary use and recycling and disposal. Portland cement is a pre-eminent construction material which world production exceeds 2 billion t per year. Despite this success, the industry faces challenges related to improved durability and enhanced performance while at the same time improving the sustainability of production. Portland cement is not environmentally very friendly material. The production of 1t of portland cement requires 1.6 t of raw materials, primarily good quality limestone and clay. Also, production of 1t of portland cement clinker is said to create approximately 1t of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHG) and requires lots of fuels and energy. The cement industry is fully aware of their part of the responsibility in implementing all the necessary measures and over the past decades, has been actively involved in seeking ways to consume less energy and natural resources, and emit less CO2 per unit of cement produced. Cement industry can significantly contributes to the sustainable development by continuously reducing the CO2 emission from cement production by increased use of biofuels and alternative raw materials as introducing modified low-energy clinker types and cements with reduced clinker content. .