
Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), mainly made from recycled materials such as construction and demolition waste (CDW), has emerged as a sustainable alternative to natural aggregate concrete (NAC). While RAC offers potential benefits in waste reduction and resource conservation, a comprehensive understanding of its environmental impact and sustainability compared to NAC has been lacking. This study addresses this gap by conducting a thorough review and analysis of comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies between RAC and NAC. This paper synthesizes current literature to evaluate the environmental impact of both materials throughout their life cycles, from raw material extraction to disposal. It examines key factors such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion to provide a thorough comprehension of the effects on the environment of each concrete type throughout their life cycles. Challenges in using RAC as a sustainable concrete option, such as sourcing and quality control, are also discussed, along with recommendations for future research and industry practices. The findings indicate that the environmental impact of RAC compared to NAC is significantly influenced by transport distances and modes. In addition, the choice of functional units in LCAs substantially affects the comparison between RAC and NAC, with strength reliability offering a clear benefit by addressing concrete property variability and better reflecting real-world conditions.
Life cycle assessment, Sustainability, Functional unit, DegreeDisciplines::Engineering::Materials Science and Engineering::Structural Materials, Recycled concrete aggregate, DegreeDisciplines::Physical Sciences and Mathematics::Environmental Sciences::Sustainability, 600, DegreeDisciplines::Engineering::Civil and Environmental Engineering::Construction Engineering and Management, Concrete, Environmental
Life cycle assessment, Sustainability, Functional unit, DegreeDisciplines::Engineering::Materials Science and Engineering::Structural Materials, Recycled concrete aggregate, DegreeDisciplines::Physical Sciences and Mathematics::Environmental Sciences::Sustainability, 600, DegreeDisciplines::Engineering::Civil and Environmental Engineering::Construction Engineering and Management, Concrete, Environmental
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 57 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% |
