Life cycle assessment (LCA) applied to the manufacturing of common and ecological concrete: A review

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology used to evaluate the potential environmental impact and the resources used throughout the life cycle of a product, i.e., environmental impact management is approached from the moment the raw material is extracted to the phases of production, use, disposal, and recycling. In the context of sustainable production in civil construction, products should be conceived so that at the beginning of their life cycle, they contain recycled waste as raw material and, at the end of their life cycle, they can be recycled and reused to become raw materials in other production systems. The present study is a literature review conducted to present the state-of-the-art of LCA methods applied to the manufacturing of common and ecological concrete. Concepts and tools are discussed. The need for further LCA studies on the treatment and reuse of construction waste is evident to prevent its disposal in the environment and to incorporate it in the life cycle of new concretes.