Building Blocks to Combat Climate Change:

A fascinating piece of recent research might just redefine your view of your workplace, your home, or indeed any concrete building nearby. Scientists from the University of California, Davis, and Stanford University, have put forward an exciting premise: creation of common construction materials could potentially store billions of tons of carbon dioxide. This major study brings forward the idea that along with decarbonising our economy, we also have the potential to put our buildings to work in the fight against climate change.

The Winning Formula: Construction & Carbon:

Led by graduate student Elisabeth Van Roijen, the study showcases the untapped potential of carbon sequestration in common building materials, including concrete, asphalt, plastics, wood, and brick. These materials are normally produced in large quantities – over 30 billion tons per annum, in fact. By employing various innovative methods like additive biochar into concrete, turning artificial rocks rich with carbon into concrete and asphalt pavement aggregate, and integrating biomass fibre into bricks, we could effectively turn our buildings into carbon sinks.

Carbon Storage Superstars: Concrete & Plastics:

Among these materials, bio-based plastics showed the most promising carbon storage potential by weight. However, in terms of sheer volume, concrete - being the world's most popular building material - emerged as the potential superstar. The research team have estimated that turning just 10% of the world's concrete production into carbonate would absorb a gigaton of CO2! Not to mention, the majority feedstock for these new processes are low-value waste materials, providing both a sustainable solution and boosting the circular economy.

Sweeping Up Carbon from Thin Air:

While the technology is still in its developmental phase, its immediate worth is apparent. The ability to utilize materials that we produce in copious amounts to store carbon could be a game changer in our collective approach to tackle climate change. It's a bright ray of hope, surely inspiring a new wave of inventive thinking towards sustainable materials and construction.

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