Photo: Lafarge Srbija (Poslovna zgrada GTC X)According to the United Nations, cities produce more than 60% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but they are also key players in tackling climate change. By 2050, about 70 percent of the world's population is expected to live in cities, with an additional 2.5 billion people. Demographic growth and urbanization directly encourage construction; hence, it is predicted that, as a result thereof, the annual world production of concrete, from the current 4.5 billion tons, will rise to as much as 5.5 billion by the middle of the 21st century. On the other hand, the production of cement, the main binding component of concrete, accounts for about 7% of CO2 emissions in the world. We cannot imagine modern construction without cement and concrete, for which globally there is no equally available and efficient alternative. Given this data, it becomes clearer what the responsibility of the manufacturers of building materials is in terms of stopping the harmful effects of climate change.
The transition towards a carbon-neutral future is only possible if we include this principle in construction, and sustainable construction begins already in the design phase, where the harmful impact on nature can be reduced by choosing building materials.
The development of low-carbon solutions is part of the business strategy of Lafarge Serbia, which for the past few years has been intensively working on the development of a green portfolio of innovative building materials that correspond to sustainability standards.
The Lafarge ECO portfolio includes ECOPact green concrete, ECOPlanet green cement, and green binders for infrastructure. Due to the low emission of CO2 per ton of material, all the listed products meet the requirements of the leading green certificates: LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, WELL, and EDGE.
Lafarge Serbia employees provide full support to their customers to help them reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings and infrastructure, that is, to build better and more with less resource consumption. It is the only way to build progress for both people and the planet at the same time.
ECOPACT – GREEN CONCRETE
ECOPact is the trademark of the Holcim Group for concretes that have at least 30% and up to 90% less carbon footprint than concrete produced according to the industrial standard while maintaining the same characteristics and efficiency required of concrete. The recipe for ECOPact is made according to the requirements for strength and exposure class, depending on the purpose in the project documentation.
ECOPact concretes are comparable or even more advanced in terms of their physical and mechanical properties (strength, waterproofness, and resistance) compared to standard concretes, while the technological properties of fresh ECOPact (homogeneity, workability, cohesiveness, stability, and machinability) are in the same range as the conventional ones. They are suitable for all reinforced concrete elements, while the very process of production, delivery, and installation of green concrete does not differ from the usual one.
As with standard products, the very process of producing green products like cement and concrete requires quality control and monitoring of both the raw materials and the final product. Later, through stable process parameters, consistency in performance is guaranteed.
In our offer, ECOPact is available to customers in Serbia from 2021, and from 2022, ECOPact Prime is also available, with a 55% lower carbon footprint.
Green concrete, which is based on cement blended to provide a lower heat of hydration in concrete (CEM II/BM(S-V)42.5N LH), meets the broadest range of commercial requirements. It is suitable for all reinforced concrete elements. Its low hydration heat, as well as its high durability and strength, make it ideal for building massive foundations and piles for bridges. It is suitable for all classes of concrete exposure in aggressive environments thanks to its chemical and mineralogical composition, as well as the production of frost-resistant concrete XF3 (maximum 150 cycles).
OUR PROJECTS WITH ECOPACT CONCRETE
So far, the use of ECOPact concrete has been excellent in the construction of industrial complexes, particularly the tire manufacturing factory in Indjija and the logistics and distribution center in Šimanovci.
As for residential projects in Belgrade, ECOPact is currently being delivered to several projects that have opted for green building, choosing materials for a more humane living and working space, among them the Belgrade Waterfront projects—Libera, Sole, and Scala—as well as the residential-business complex Novi Dorćol. ECOPact was used in the construction of the recently opened GTC X premium class office building in New Belgrade, which, thanks to the high standards of green building and energy efficiency, has been awarded the LEED Gold Certificate.
Our expectations are that the demand for green materials on the market will increase because, in addition to the reduced impact of harmful gases on the environment, these materials also have improved characteristics when it comes to certain applications.
Text and photo: Lafarge Srbija
