Oh, it's a sexy subject and a half this episode. Concrete is one of the most widely-used building materials in the world, so we're exploring its environmental impact with Adam Gittins from Cemfree. The manufacture of traditional cement, a key component of concrete, accounts for up to 8% of GLOBAL carbon emissions. But, there are innovative ways to reduce this - from creating ultra low-carbon types of cement (like Cemfree) that can be used, to designing buildings that use concrete smarter and have much more thorough 'end-of-life' recycling plans that can re-use building materials once the structure is no longer needed in its current form. And, as Adam points out, persuading the government to make these changes mandated in projects like the construction of all new homes, would make a huge impact on a very carbon-heavy industry.
Extra reading:
Cemfree (DB Group): https://dbgholdings.com/cemfree/
Cement makers across world pledge large cut in emissions by 2030 (Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/12/cement-makers-across-world-pledge-large-cut-in-emissions-by-2030-co2-net-zero-2050#:~:text=The%20industry%20is%20responsible%20for,and%20concrete%20release%20CO2.
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64: Bobbing for Truth: Halloween‘s Environmental Footprint
63: Light pollution! What’s up with bulbs, brightness and blinding nature?
62: Soil: Essential and… Sexy?
61: Eco(ish) Home Renovation & Redecoration
60: Slash Your Carbon Footprint with a Green Pension, with Make My Money Matter
59: Space tourism: bad news for terra firma?
58: Cryptocurrency! Is Bitcoin burning the planet?
57: Trees! With Joe Middleton from Woodland Trust
56: Carbon Storage
55: Renewables with Juliet Davenport, CEO of Good Energy
54: Starting a Sustainable and Ethical Business, with James from Animall Tea
53: Chris Jones from Cornwall Beaver Project
52: How to grow your own food
51: PETS! Can they be sustainable? Feat. Ryan Dalton
50: Tea and Coffee
49: Anthropogenic Noise! (Human sound pollution)
48: BOGS! Nature‘s best carbon capture habitats.
47: Air Pollution: What are we breathing in?
46: Tom Carroll: Saving the rainforest with TikTok, 3D printng coral reefs, and offshore wind farms
45: Merry Christmas-is-a-bit-cancelled bonus Q&A!
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