With more and more effort going into the protection of the planet each year, it is understandable for people to be hesitant of the largely used building resource that is concrete. With this, we would like to firstly put everyone’s mind at ease and state that concrete is recyclable! Concrete is created through all natural resources and once it has been hardened, there are specially made crushing machines that break down the material into smaller and smaller pieces to be reused for other purposes.

What makes concrete sustainable?

1. Natural Resources

The main raw material used within the creation of concrete is limestone, which also happens to be the most abundant mineral on Earth.  Concrete can also be made with fly ash, slag cement, and silica fume, all waste by-products from power plants, steel mills, and other manufacturing facilities.

2. Life Span

Concrete is one of the few building resources that does not rust, rot or burn making it one of the most durable building resources. The buildings made from concrete tend to be twice or three times as strong and long lasting as other common materials.

3. Minimal Waste

In concrete built structures, quantities can be easily measured and produced to provide accurate amounts therefore leaving little to no waste. On top of this, old concrete structures can be recycled through the use of large machines which break down the material producing aggregate for future projects.

4. Thermal Benefits

Unlike other common building resources, concrete has thermal benefits which allow it to hold heat within buildings extremely well. The heat which is held can therefore reduce a home’s heating costs and reduce emissions through more harmful resources such as gas or oil.