Abstract
PURPOSE: The construction sector, and in particular concrete, contributes substantially to global emissions, energy demand, and the extensive use of materials. To address these challenges, it is important to develop and implement strategies that reduce the environmental footprint of concrete supply chains. Understanding such impacts and the ways to mitigate them is essential. Therefore, this study focuses on analysing the impacts of decarbonisation strategies within the construction sector, with a specific focus on concrete. METHODS: A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted at different levels of the concrete supply chain, from the production in the United Kingdom (UK) of 1 ton of cement and 1 m(3) of concrete to the construction of a building. In addition to the business-as-usual scenario, three alternative scenarios were assessed, namely cleaner electricity, in which the impact of using five different electricity grid mixes was evaluated; cleaner transportation, for which the impact of using battery-powered electric trucks and different transportation distances was assessed; and cleaner fuels, for which the impact of using alternative fuel combinations in the cement kiln was analysed. Multi-objective optimisation was used to find the optimal solution when minimising Global Warming Potential (GWP) and maximising the reduction of all the other impact categories. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results show that significant reductions (of 10 to 37%) in CO(2)-eq emissions can be achieved when combining different strategies. However, certain strategies could bring an increase in other impact categories, including stratospheric ozone depletion, ionising radiation, freshwater eutrophication, and land use. CONCLUSIONS: Adopting an electricity mix featuring substantial proportions of nuclear and wind energies, coupled with the use of biomass alongside municipal solid waste for kiln fuel, and integrating battery electric trucks, emerges as a promising alternative. However, this optimal scenario for CO(2)-eq reduction might not align with the best outcomes across all impact categories. Specific attention is warranted, particularly regarding nuclear sources for electricity and increasing land use due to expanding renewable energy sources. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11367-025-02537-5.