Materials Efficiency

Performance indicator

The concrete industry, as well as recycling its own process waste, is very active in the use of by-products, secondary materials and material diverted from the waste stream to reduce its demands on primary raw materials.

 

Material diverted from the waste-stream for use as a fuel source, as a percentage of total energy use

Materials Efficiency graph 1

The high temperature achieved in cement kilns enables the safe use of combustible waste materials which can replace non-renewable fossil fuels. The continued investment by the cement sector in the replacement of fossil fuels is evident from the steady increase in the use of waste-derived fuels. The 2012 target was achieved in 2010 when a quarter of the energy used in the concrete industry came from material derived from the waste stream.

 

This indicator can now be assessed against the challenging target of 50% set for 2020 which recognises that there is likely to be increasing competition for these alternative fuel sources.

 

The amount of additional cementitious materials as a proportion of total cementitious materials

materials efficiency graph 2

Concrete manufacture uses by-products from other industries. These materials are used extensively in concrete as an additional cementitious material to lower the embodied CO2  and reduce demand for primary materials.

 

 

 

 

 

Tyre chips are just one of the various waste-derived fuels used by cement sector.

 

 

 

 

 

In 2011 the use of additional cementitious materials increased compared to 2010. This indicator is on track to meet the target for 2012.

 

The use of recycled/secondary aggregates as a proportion of total aggregates used

 

materials efficiency graph 3

 

In 2011, the use of recycled and secondary aggregates accounted for 5.3% of the aggregates used in concrete. The trend observed for this indicator is likely to depend on the market demands for a specific product mix rather than any specific programme to increase the recycled content. The manufacture of precast concrete provides greater opportunities for the use of recycled aggregates and in this sector the figure is over 20%.

 

In total, recycled and secondary materials accounts for 28% of the GB aggregates market. This is the highest market share in Europe and is over three times the European average. Most 'hard' construction and demolition waste currently generated is reprocessed for use in the aggregates markets and the future supply of these materials will be dependant on the availability

of suitable demolition material.

 

Further information on the materials efficiency indicator can be found in the full report.