Articles and blogposts on concete and cement

Although reuse is often highlighted as an obvious part of sustainable construction, there are several challenges that affect how building components and materials can be utilized. The issue is not just about technology, regulations, or economics, but also about processes and cooperation between different actors. When the availability and dimensions of materials are not known in advance, it is necessary to build in room for different options already in the detailed planning stage—something that today's planning and building permit processes, which are adapted for new construction with standardized building products, have difficulty handling.

When it comes to building materials, quality, safety, and sustainability are crucial. Cement is the heart of concrete, and together with sand, aggregate, and other additives, it forms the basis of construction projects such as bridges, roads, and buildings. The properties of both cement and concrete affect both longevity and safety. That is why RISE offers testing and chemical analysis of both cement and concrete.

The construction sector has a lot to gain from reclaiming materials - especially load-bearing structures such as concrete frames, which often have a long lifespan after demolition. Despite the great climate potential, development is being slowed by unclear rules and uncertainty about quality. To speed up the transition, RISE has established a center with the goal of making reuse a natural part of the construction process.

Robotic additive manufacturing might sound like something confined to the world of high-tech labs or niche industries, and until recently, that assumption wouldn’t have been far off the mark. But in the past few years, the technology has made impressive leaps forward, and it’s now being trialled in a wide range of fields.

India is the world's second largest producer of cement – which means high greenhouse gas emissions. In a bilateral collaboration, Swedish companies are now developing new solutions to help the Indian industry make the transition. The bridge between Swedish innovators and the Indian cement industry are experts from RISE.

Most of us take clean drinking water for granted, but the fact is that Sweden's water treatment and distribution infrastructure is neglected. With its type approval, SST Slitskyddsteknik can help to future-proof this important social function.

Producing concrete has become a major source of global CO2 emissions. Simultaneously, 70 percent of the world's population is expected to live in cities by 2050. The growing need for infrastructure and housing means that the use of concrete will increase sharply. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find sustainable alternatives to traditional concrete. The industry understands the importance of this. According to RISE's concrete and materials experts, a new standard for recycled concrete could be introduced as early as 2025.

Reusing heavy building components such as concrete frames will help the construction sector achieve net zero emissions by 2045 – while increasing the number of homes. Efforts are now underway to shape the market. 

Municipalities are attempting to achieve ambitious climate goals, but must also meet the increasing need for new housing and premises. The construction sector wants to become part of a circular economy – but must first and foremost comply with strict building codes and material requirements. These are not simple equations, but reuse is part of the solution. 

In developing the tenant-owner association Viva in Gothenburg, Riksbyggen’s goal has been to create Sweden’s most innovative building project with a focus on sustainability. By thinking innovatively about concrete, they have identified methods to reduce the project’s carbon footprint. “This project was intended to demonstrate how we can reduce climate impact. And we have seen that it really is possible,” says Nadia Al-Ayish of RISE.