Abstract

MUIGAI, R; ALEXANDER, M G  and  MOYO, P. Cradle-to-gate environmental impacts of the concrete industry in South Africa. J. S. Afr. Inst. Civ. Eng. [online]. 2013, vol.55, n.2, pp.02-07. ISSN 2309-8775.

The objective of the paper is to provide an understanding of the South African concrete industry's environmental burden in terms of natural resource consumption and carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO₂-e). The review covers current practices in the concrete construction field in South Africa (SA) and their implications for the environment. Elaboration in terms of detail and quantification is given for the environmental burden generated during the manufacture of raw materials for concrete and their transportation to site. Four-year average (2005-2008) data is provided for resources consumed and wastes emitted during the quarrying and manufacture of raw materials for concrete. Carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions data per unit of material produced was obtained from the InEnergy Report produced for the Cement and Concrete Institute (C&CI) of South Africa. The study determined that, on average, 39.7 Mt of raw materials are consumed per year and 4.92 x 10⁹ kg CO₂-e emissions are emitted per year to produce cement and aggregates for concrete production in South Africa.

Keywords : environmental burden; CO₂-e emissions; concrete industry; South Africa.

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