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Decarbonization of Cement and Concrete: Towards Sustainable Construction Practices

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1815

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
Interests: design and synthesis of smart materials and fluids; carbon se-questration; building and transport infrastructure; nuclear energy; environmental remediation; hydropower generation

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Guest Editor
Physical & Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
Interests: thermal energy storage material; carbon mineralization; solid waste upcycling; future cement
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MI 65409, USA
Interests: Carbon mineralization; thermal energy storage material; solid waste upcycling; cement chemistry; future types of cement
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Minis-try of Education on Safe Mining of Deep Metal Mines, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Interests: rock mechanics; concrete workability; portland cement; in situ stresses; mining automation; filling materials; deep learning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete contributes significantly to climate change, accounting for 7–8% of total CO2 emissions. The pivotal role of cement, constituting 88% of emissions in concrete production, necessitates urgent the adoption of net-zero-compatible and decarbonization technologies. The large-scale deployment of these decarbonization technologies is crucial for cost reduction and substantial greenhouse gas reduction. To promote this deployment, future studies are still needed regarding (1) novel (supplementary) cementitious materials; (2) carbon sequestration methods in concrete; (3) innovation in manufacturing and construction; (4) carbon footprint and cost estimation; and (5) low/net-zero carbon structures.

We invite researchers, academics, and industry experts to contribute their cutting-edge findings, propelling the discourse on decarbonizing cement and concrete. Help shape the future of sustainable construction by submitting your papers and fostering a collective effort to mitigate the CO2 footprint globally. Contributions addressing innovative research in this domain are welcome, as well as review articles and case studies.

This Special Issue aims to compile the latest research regarding vital subjects, such as

  • Low-carbon cement, concrete, and structure
  • Carbon capture in cement and concrete
  • Recycling demolished concrete
  • Sustainability in construction
  • Innovative mix designs for concrete
  • Cement and concrete production optimization
  • Intelligent structures and materials
  • Durability studies with advanced functionality
  • Life cycle analysis

Dr. Carlos Fernandez
Dr. Chao Zeng
Dr. Wenyu Liao
Dr. Yunsen Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • green cement and concrete
  • numerical, experimental, data analysis
  • life cycle assessment
  • durability and sustainability of construction materials
  • functionalized construction materials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

39 pages, 19409 KiB  
Article
Qualitative Characterization of Concrete Production in Panama from an Environmental Perspective: Water, Energy, and CO2 Emissions
by Yamileth Y. Lima, Luis F. Sulbarán and Yazmin L. Mack-Vergara
Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 1918; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17051918 - 24 Feb 2025
Viewed by 674
Abstract
This study compares the technological routes of concrete production in Panama from an environmental perspective, focusing on water, energy, and CO2 flows per process to identify opportunities for improvement. It addresses a critical gap found in the literature where flow diagrams and [...] Read more.
This study compares the technological routes of concrete production in Panama from an environmental perspective, focusing on water, energy, and CO2 flows per process to identify opportunities for improvement. It addresses a critical gap found in the literature where flow diagrams and production processes are presented as being standardized across concrete plants, offering an in-depth qualitative analysis of resource flows. Data from 20 concrete plants revealed significant variability in resource use and potential environmental impacts due to differences in technology, location, and resource availability. Flow diagrams and similarity dendrograms highlight the similarities and differences in the technological routes. The key findings include variability in water sources and energy consumption patterns, with some utilizing rainwater harvesting and water recycling and most plants relying on grid electricity and diesel. The best practices include the implementation of environmental indicators and water recycling systems. CO2 injection, already adopted by two plants, shows promise; however, its potential additional energy demands should be assessed. Covering aggregate storage areas for temperature control reduces water spraying needs and could support rainwater harvesting, with opportunities to integrate solar panels. Regular maintenance of concrete trucks also enhances efficiency and reduces environmental impact due to diesel consumption. The study underscores the importance of tailored strategies to improve water and energy efficiency, aligning with national and international initiatives such as “Reduce tu Huella” (Reduce your Footprint) and the 2030 Agenda. These findings provide actionable insights to support the development of a more sustainable concrete industry in Panama and beyond. Full article
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