Nachhaltigkeitssteigerung nichtmetallischer Betonbewehrungen durch 3R-Ansätze

Enhancing the sustainability of non-metallic reinforced concrete through the 3R framework

The construction industry is transitioning from a linear to a circular economy, focusing on waste reduction, material reuse, and recycling. Fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) support this shift by extending reinforcement durability through corrosion-resistant fibers and reducing concrete demand. However, recycling FRCs remains challenging due to high energy consumption, harmful by-products, and degradation of mechanical properties—often leading to downcycling. Furthermore, recycling does not reduce the embodied carbon and grey energy from production, transport, and installation. For sustainable construction, non-metallic reinforcement should be preserved as long as its structural integrity remains intact—e.g., through the reuse of entire concrete slabs. This contribution highlights technologies that aim to implement the 3R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in construction, including robotic manufacturing, recycled carbon fibers (rCF), reinforcement repair, automated deconstruction, and reuse-oriented design. Integrating these technologies into non-metallic reinforcement enhances the circularity of concrete structures and promotes material sustainability in the building sector.