Sustainability of concretes with binary and ternary blended cements considering performance parameters

Abstract

This paper examines the sustainability of cementitious materials and concrete. Although the environmental impact of these materials is often evaluated based on their CO₂ emissions per ton of cement or m³ of concrete, incorporating performance parameters into sustainability indices is crucial for a more comprehensive assessment. This study evaluates the sustainability of concretes with and without supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), considering compressive strength and durability performance as performance parameters. Results show that the most sustainable concretes have the highest compressive strength and best durability performance. Furthermore, the importance of using locally available materials is highlighted, as transporting SCM over long distances can outweigh the benefits of using them as a replacement for Portland cement.