Concrete the responsible choice

Concrete is an important contributor to sustainable development. As the most widely used construction material, concrete is a vital part of Australia's $150 billion building and construction industry which provides a major contribution to Australia's economic and social well-being through employment, taxation and investment activities as well as providing the roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and our homes. 
Like all products, concrete has environmental impacts arising from the acquisition of raw materials, processing, transport and recycling at the end of its life. However, these are significantly outweighed by the environmental, social and economic benefits that concrete delivers:

  • A high quality and affordable product that delivers high quality low cost structures;
  • Low environmental impacts and can be used to reduce the overall environmental impact of a structure;
  • Thermal mass can be used to increase the energy efficiency of buildings; 
  • Buildings are long lasting and have very low maintenance requirements;
  • Flexible architectural medium and can be used in many applications for aesthetically beautiful buildings;
  • Buildings can be designed to be adapted and reused many times over and recycled at the end of their lives;
  • Does not give off harmful fumes or gases;
  • Concrete buildings provide improved indoor air quality as they do not require the use of finishes such as carpets on floors or paints/sealants on walls; and
  • Non-combustible and has excellent fire resistance properties providing protection to human life and material assets from the danger of fires.

Concrete is the foundation upon which our communities are built

The aggregate, cement and concrete industries are making advances in reducing energy consumption, water use and greenhouse gas emissions. The industry provides safe and healthy work environments and contributes to the multi-billion dollar construction industry. Concrete is fire and termite resistant, flood resilient, robust and strong. It is manufactured from abundant and naturally occurring materials. It is durable and long lasting and does not release any toxins. Concrete can be formed into infinite shapes and can be used to construct an unlimited array of buildings and structures that can be attractively finished.

Briefing 11 - Sustainable Concrete Materials  - Concrete is the most commonly used construction material in the world today and its constituent materials occur naturally in all parts of the world. Concrete has been used in the construction of durable bridges, roads, water‑supply structures, medical facilities, housing and commercial buildings to give people a social foundation, a thriving economy and serviceable facilities for many years. 

Briefing 12 - Thermal Mass Benefits for Housing - Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb and store heat. Concrete's high thermal mass can significantly reduce energy requirements for heating and cooling in homes and commercial buildings. This briefing demonstrates that concrete is the responsible choice for energy efficient and sustainable homes.          

Briefing 13 - Sustainable Concrete Building - The design and construction of sustainable buildings involve striking a sensible balance of social, environmental and economic considerations. Concrete is a versatile building material that can provide many sustainable benefits and choosing the appropriate method of concrete construction for the particular type of building will ensure these benefits are utilised to deliver the most sustainable outcome.    

Briefing 14 - Sustainable Concrete Infrastructure - Concrete is the most economical, enduring and fit-for-purpose building material; delivering strong performance across the three pillars of sustainability – social, environmental and economic. Without concrete, efficient and affordable infrastructure to service large cities would not exist.        

Briefing 15 - Sustainable Concrete Roads - Roads help to develop, maintain and sustain civilisation. They are the foundation for trade, industry and commerce, and travel for business and leisure. While roads sustain civilisation, choosing to make them from concrete is a sustainable and responsible choice.       

Briefing 16 - Quiet and Comfortable Concrete Homes - As the land available for home building becomes increasingly scarce we are forced to build our homes closer together and nearer noise sources such as highways and railways. This document outlines why concrete is the responsible choice for creating quiet, comfortable and sustainable homes.