A perspective on environmental sustainability in the cement industry

• Published in: Waste disposal & sustainable energy Vol. 2; no. 3; pp. 161 - 164
• Main Authors: Ighalo, Joshua O., Adeniyi, Adewale George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.09.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Air pollution; Alternative energy sources; Alternative fuels; Anthropogenic factors; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Carbon sequestration; Cement; Cement industry; Civil engineering; Climate change; Disruptive innovation; Earth and Environmental Science; Emissions; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Engineering Thermodynamics; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Fossil fuels; Growth rate; Heat and Mass Transfer; Human influences; Innovations; Manufacturing; Materials substitution; Outdoor air quality; Product development; Profitability; Renewable and Green Energy; Solid wastes; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Technological change; Viewpoint; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Environment; Pollution; Global warming; Waste; Sustainability; Cement
• ISSN: 2524-7980; 2524-7891
• DOI: 10.1007/s42768-020-00043-y

Cement production is a major contributor to anthropogenic CO 2 emissions and solid waste generation. This paper discusses some of the key issues as regards the slow progress in achieving environmental sustainability in the cement industry. Techniques such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), material substitution, alternative fuels and energy efficient technologies have been proposed as means of mitigating the negative environmental impact of cement production. It was observed that much progress has been made in the area of eco-friendly research innovations. These innovations (considered as disruptive by the mega co-operations) have had issues at the entrepreneurial stage. These so-called disruptive technologies have struggled to meet some performance requirements and satisfy funding evaluators thus are still difficult to fully commercialise. The systematisation of the environmental sustainability problem was discussed as a possible way forward both in the environmental, economic and social domain. Looking into the future, a greater emphasis on systematised decision-based approach could help breach the gap between on-paper plans and practical implementations to achieve environmental sustainability.