Ask the Expert: How is GCP using concrete technology to reduce waste?

Throughout the processes of creating, transporting, and eventually receiving leftover plastic concrete, there’s a lot of room for improvements in sustainability and waste reduction. In order to steer the concrete industry in a more eco-friendly direction, Klaus-Alexander Rieder, R&D director of concrete technologies at GCP Applied Technologies, and his team have developed a number of innovative concrete solutions at their research hub in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

How do you reduce waste and improve sustainability across the life cycle of concrete? That’s been one of the central questions we’re focused on at GCP. It’s been no easy task. One must consider the CO2 that’s emitted in the mining and transportation phases, the water that’s used to make concrete, and the large amount of material that’s often left over. Up to 3 to 5% of concrete production gets returned to the plant where it was produced. That’s why we’ve taken a multi-faceted approach to waste reduction, one that utilizes various concrete technologies to achieve a shared goal.

One of the biggest problems facing the industry is the diminishing amount of high-quality aggregate, with quarry reserves often contaminated with clay. In response, GCP developed the CLARENA® portfolio of materials management solutions to mitigate the negative effects of clay and reduce the amount of wasted aggregate. The CLARENA® chemical additive improves the workability and flow of concrete made with aggregate that has high clay content. Another area of focus is reducing the amount of water used for making concrete. This is especially important in states like California that have tougher standards for water use after suffering years of drought.