Lafarge Donation Raises the Issue of Concrete and Carbon Reduction

Sometimes technology news in commercial real estate is important not so much for the particular story, but the bigger issues it represents.

That seems the case with a recent announcement from Lafarge Canada that it was donating more than $50,000 CAD toward the construction of a recreational sports park in First Nation reservation. The in-kind donation is of ECOPact low-carbon concrete destined for the Pic Mobert First Nation park in Ontario.

Lafarge, a major supplier of building materials, is one of a number of companies donating toward the $750,000 project.

As with all industries, CRE increasingly comes under scrutiny for ESG concerns, particularly the environmental aspect. Climate change is a huge issue, putting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere increases the danger, and as investors and regulators increase pressure, institutions turn to developers and builders to look for greenhouse gas reductions to which they could lay claim.

The World Cement Association that global cement production is about 4.2 billion metric tons and general scientific consensus is that each ton produced is responsible for 1.2 tons of released CO₂.

Concrete production is hugely energy-intensive because the process requires immense heat to first break down limestone into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide, and then clay into aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide and iron oxide. The result is Portland cement—and additional CO₂ release from the burnt fossil fuel to enable the reaction.

Researchers are looking at a variety of methods that might reduce the amount of greenhouse gas. One is to make cement differently than now. Some researchers are trying to chemically treat the mix of limestone and clay to replace a large portion of the cement used in concrete. Others look to add other materials—polymers in the form of waste plastic fibers—to act like a surgical mesh to lower brittleness and add longevity to concrete. The longer a building stands, the longer a period it can be repurposed into other uses and put off the need for additional building.

In fact, the idea of designing buildings with the intent for eventual adaptability is another technique, as is using design techniques that can reduce the amount of concrete needed in a building.

The less concrete that’s needed and the longer what you pour can be useful, the greater the cuts to greenhouse gases over time can be.