Concrete is in many ways an ideal building material – locally available, cheap, perfect composite material when combined with steel and highly durable and easy-to-work-with when used with Sika products. However, it is not so perfect ecologically - it is the second most used substance on earth after water consuming many resources, its most important ingredient is responsible for 7% of global CO₂ emissions, whereby production is an energy intensive process.
Why Does It Matter
Future regulations such as the European Green Deal, the US Green New Deal or China's Green Strategy will have a strong positive impact on the carbon footprint and recycling rate of the construction industry. However, there are significant challenges to meet the new standards.
Three major challenges facing the concrete construction industry today include:
- Carbon Reduction: Addressing the high carbon footprint of concrete due to cement, which accounts for 7% of global carbon emissions
- Resource Efficiency: Reducing the high raw material consumption of concrete, which is the second most consumed substance on earth after water
- Productivity Increase: Optimizing the ways of processing concrete, because the construction industry has the greatest potential of all industries to increase production efficiency
Three Main Challenges Addressed by Sika
Carbon Reduction
Taking the Lead to Reduce CO2 Emissions
The production of cement, the main component in concrete, is responsible for around 7% of global carbon emissions.
Key factors for the future of the cement industry include: optimizing quality cement production, trying to reduce the energy required per ton of cement produced, and using alternative raw materials in the concrete mix.
The cement industry is now facing two primary objectives: reduction of clinker and alternative material use. The reduction of clinker in cement production started many years ago. The search for new alternative components as part of the binder is already in progress and will surely continue for decades. These two goals will continue to be a big challenge in the coming decades, which require knowhow from all involved parties to reduce CO2 emissions.
Sika, as the global leading company in concrete admixtures and cement additives, is your partner in developing products supporting that challenge.
Three Ways to Cut CO2 Emissions
SikaGrind® helps optimize energy use in cement production
By using SikaGrind® during the cement production process, the attraction of fine particles is reduced during grinding. This effect helps avoid the coating of the mill interior and lower agglomeration, which results in an increase of productivity (t/h) at constant power (W).
In this way, the mill efficiency during cement production is improved, making considerable energy and CO2 emissions savings.
See how SikaGrind® helped these cement plants
Sika's additives to enable CC and LC³ technology
By using SikaGrind® CC (calcined clay) additives in the production of CC cement or LC3 (limestone calcined clay cement), it can possibly reduce the amount of clinker used per ton of cement and increase use of calcined clays (which require a lower burning temperature than traditional clinker).
In this way, a significant CO2 footprint reduction can be achieved, especially by the wide use of calcined clay in cement and concrete.
¹Source: Global Cement Review
Sika reCO2ver allows concrete to be completely recycled
By using the Sika reCO2ver process for concrete recycling, construction material components can be completely separated. With the reCO2ver process, carbon dioxide is sequestered. This can further reduce the environmental footprint of building structures. Valuable sand, gravel, and powder, which can be used as additives, are reclaimed.
In this way, concrete can be separated into its main components, clean aggregates and partly reactive powders without limitation for further use in concrete.
Resource Efficiency
Securing and Protecting Resources
Concrete is the most important construction material in the world. Each cubic meter of concrete needs approximately 900 kg of sand, 1,100 kg of coarse aggregates, 300 kg of cement and 180 liters of water.
A few possibilities to secure and protect resources in concrete construction include:
- optimize cement and water content in concrete
- open new sources of raw materials to be used for concrete
- reduce quantity of used concrete
Sika takes the lead to support customers all over the world in optimizing concrete recipes and achieving specifiers' requirements. It is key to achieve a project's concrete requirement with the best possible performance-sustainable-cost ratio.
Three Ways to Help Save Resources
Sika® ViscoCrete® minimizes water and optimizes cement
By using Sika® ViscoCrete® during concrete production, the flowability of concrete is improved thanks to lower water content as a result of the absorption behavior. The reduction of water leads to a higher structural density and reduced porosity in the cement structure.
In this way, concrete structures achieve significantly improved durability and mechanical properties.
Check out what Sika® ViscoCrete® did for these projects
Download the brochure to learn more
SikaControl® helps maximize durability
By using SikaControl® as part of the concrete mix design concept, durability properties of concrete are maximized. This is made possible by reducing shrinkage properties, improving water tightness of construction or controlling the undesired interaction of aggregates with binders or aggressive water attack.
In this way, durability is greatly improved and long-lasting, sustainable concrete structures endure.
Learn more about SikaControl® application
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Sika CODE enables the use of alternative aggregates
With the Sika CODE concept, the controlled use of manufactured, recycled or crushed sands and aggregates is possible. The concept provides steps to identify possible solutions to numerous challenges related to aggregates.
In this way, the global lack of natural resources for high quality sands and aggregates can be addressed, helping to stabilize the quality of daily concrete production.
Download the brochure to learn more
Productivity Increase
Effective and Efficient Concrete Application
2,500 kg per cubic meter of concrete must be processed, transported, placed and cured to get the universal building material.
Whether through improvement of construction processes (e.g. SCC - self-compacting concrete), efficient use of energy (e.g. steam curing) or alternative construction methods (e.g. modular building), these approaches all serve to increase productivity on the construction site.
It is key for every partner in the value chain to make the most out of all concrete construction material in the most efficient way. Together with planners, concrete producers and contractors, Sika develops and realizes concrete concepts to improve productivity while ensuring safe construction at the same time.
Three Ways to Boost Productivity
SikaRapid® minimizes concrete curing time
By using SikaRapid®, it maximizes the benefits of early strength concrete by significantly accelerating early strength development. With this improvement, the cycle time in concrete element production can be optimized, construction speed can be increased, and heating energy can be reduced (especially important in winter time).
In this way, the demand for external power supply is minimized, and curing time during the construction process is optimized.
Check out projects where SikaRapid® was used
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SikaPump® makes the concrete flow in pipes
By using SikaPump® admixtures during concrete production, the lubrication properties of the admixture improve the flow of concrete under pressure in dense stream applications. A constant delivery of concrete will occur even with processed aggregates - a significant benefit.
In this way, performance will be improved, energy demand will be reduced, and material use will be minimized.
Learn more about SikaPump® applications
Sika ViscoFlow® secures requested workability time
By using Sika ViscoFlow® admixtures, you can control concrete workability over several hours without additional retardation. This is especially important for urban construction sites with congested traffic or in remote areas, resulting in long transportation times.
In this way, concrete quality will not be influenced during the transportation time, and no further ingredients have to be added before application.
Check out Sika ViscoFlow® case studies
Learn more in the brochure
Download the Brochure to Learn More About Sustainable Concrete Solutions
How Can Sika Support Sustainability Beyond Products
Sika provides its customers with product and system solutions to enable them to learn about sustainability within the concrete and cement market to be able to face and handle the latest challenges.
Sika develops digital solutions for and with partners to enable all those along the value chain to optimize performance and sustainability within the concrete construction process.
Sustainability and Sika
As a global company, Sika is committed to sustainable development. The company honors its responsibilities by offering sustainable solutions for energy-efficient construction and environmentally friendly vehicles. Using Sika products enables Sika customers to successfully face the latest sustainability challenges.
