"Today, environmental measures in buildings are strongly focused on achieving energy efficiency in use. However, emissions from building materials account for more than 40% of the total life cycle of a building. CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced through material choices, not only through the choice of energy sources during the use of buildings. The standards governing the use of materials must be made to support the introduction of new technologies," says Ville Voipio, commercial director at Betolar.
A Finnish pioneer company in materials technology, Betolar has become a member of the Alliance for Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete (ALCCC), an industry alliance promoting the use of low-carbon cement and concrete. The ALCCC works with the technically oriented Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS). ECOS is an international NGO with a network of members and experts who advocate for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies and laws.
"Standards are underpinned by a massive system of decision-making and oversight. The green transition in construction is only possible if new material technologies are accepted by all parties involved in the construction process. Change is only possible through a concerted effort. We want to bring our expertise and experience to the table," says Voipio.
"By adopting new performance-based standards, we have the chance to shift our attention from prescriptive measures to the results that really count - a smaller carbon footprint and better overall performance. Alternatives such Betolar's Geoprime materials offer significant CO2 savings compared to traditional concrete," says BHassan Raad, R&D director at Betolar.
Construction and buildings are major contributors to global warming and the depletion of natural resources. The consequences of the environmental crisis are already visible. In the construction sector, there are new and effective circular economy solutions that can safeguard biodiversity while radically reducing CO2 emissions.
"It is great to see that innovators from within the industry are committed to speeding up the decarbonisation of cement and concrete through better standards and policies. Technology and innovations are there, but we need political will. Removing the barriers posed by standards will allow a cost-effective and fast cut of the sector's emissions by half", says Justin Wilkes, executive director at ECOS.
