Life-cycle inventory analysis of concrete production: A critical review

Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials with a global consumption rate approaching 25 gigatonnes per year. Consequentially, its environmental burden is significant in terms of resource use and environmental emissions. There is a diverse audience of decision makers and manufacturers who are interested in understanding and lowering the environmental impact of concrete and other buildings materials, which requires a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. A critical first step in any LCA is the compilation of a credible life-cycle inventory (LCI), upon which subsequent life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) can be based. This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of concrete LCIs to date, and offers a research roadmap to improve the quality of future cement and concrete LCIs and meet the needs of major LCA users.