Karen Scrivener, Director of EPFL’s Building Materials Laboratory

Does concrete deserve its poor environmental reputation?

The production of concrete is responsible for 7 to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s not surprising that concrete has an image problem. Yet, a number of recent studies has shown that concrete’s environmental footprint – per kilo or per square meter – is actually pretty low. The problem therefore is not the material’s intrinsic properties but the fact that it is used in such huge volumes. That said, there is still plenty of room for improvement, which is why we are focusing our research efforts on making concrete and cement, one of its key ingredients, better.

You have developed a low-carbon cement which generates up to 40% less carbon dioxide than conventional cement. How has the industry responded to this innovation?

The sector has long been very conservative and resistant to change. However, the current state of the environment coupled with pressure on the industry is forcing it to step up to the mark. Our low-carbon cement is already manufactured on several continents, and producers approach us almost every week, looking for more information about it.

Could the creation of a Center for Worldwide Sustainable Construction (CWSC) in Fribourg further accelerate this trend?

This project would align the various players in the construction chain, stimulate the transfer of technologies to industry giants, and work on a global scale to develop more sustainable solutions in materials and building management.