Parul Sharma,
- , Student, Department of Civil, Poornima College of Engineering, ISI-6, RIICO Institutional Area, Sitapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, ,
Abstract
This collective review of ten seminal papers on green concrete highlights the growing emphasis on sustainable construction practices through the use of recycled materials, industrial by-products, and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). The studies consistently demonstrate that green concrete can significantly reduce carbon emissions, enhance durability, and maintain structural integrity comparable to conventional mixes. Experimental investigations confirm the viability of incorporating fly ash, silica fume, slag, quarry dust, and recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), with most mixes meeting or exceeding performance benchmarks in terms of compressive strength, workability, and long-term durability. Literature reviews and case studies further validate the environmental and economic benefits of green concrete, supporting its adoption in infrastructure projects and non-structural applications. Collectively, these papers underscore the potential of green concrete to transform the construction industry by aligning engineering performance with ecological responsibility. The reviewed studies investigate the use of materials such as fly ash, silica fume, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), quarry dust, RCA, and other waste-derived constituents as partial replacements for cement and natural aggregates. Experimental findings consistently indicate that green concrete can achieve mechanical and durability properties comparable to or better than those of conventional concrete. Most studies reported satisfactory compressive strength, improved resistance to chemical attacks, enhanced durability, and acceptable workability characteristics. Furthermore, the incorporation of waste materials contributes to effective waste management and conservation of natural resources. In addition to laboratory investigations, several literature reviews and case studies examined the practical implementation of green concrete in construction projects. These studies highlighted substantial environmental benefits, including reduced carbon footprint, lower energy consumption, and decreased landfill waste, along with potential economic advantages through material cost savings. The collective findings demonstrate that green concrete is a technically feasible, environmentally responsible, and economically viable construction material. Overall, this review underscores the transformative potential of green concrete in promoting sustainable infrastructure development and advancing the construction industry’s transition toward greener and more resource-efficient practices.
Keywords: Green concrete, sustainability, recycled materials, durability, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)
[This article belongs to Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management ]
References
- Cichocki K, Domski J, Katzer J, Ruchwa M. Impact resistant concrete elements with nonconventional reinforcement. Rocz Ochr Srod. 2014;16:692-706.
- Naik TR, Kumar R. Sustainable concrete with industrial and postconsumer by-product materials. In: Sabnis GM, editor. Green Building with Concrete: Sustainable Design and Construction. 2nd ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 2015. [Chapter 12; DOI: 10.1201/b18613-13].
- Siddique R, Belarbi R, editors. Sustainable concrete made with ashes and dust from different sources: materials, properties and applications. 1st ed. Duxford (UK): Woodhead Publishing; 2021. doi:10.1016/C2020-0-01219-3.
- Limbachiya MC, Leelawat T, Dhir RK. Use of recycled concrete aggregate in high-strength concrete. Mater Struct. 2000;33(9):574-580. doi:10.1007/BF02480538.
- Ramesh V, Pandulu G, Khanam N, Lian OC. Compressive strength prediction of ecofriendly recycled aggregate concrete: a machine learning approach. Res Eng Struct Mater. 2025;11(6):2965-2982. doi:10.17515/resm2025-595me1212rs.
- Cheruvu R, Rao BK, Reddy MAK. Experimental research on sustained concrete with the partially substitutions of GGBS, fly ash and silica fume as a cementitious material. J Eng Technol Sci. 2025;57(5):713-734. doi:10.5614/j.eng.technol.sci.2025.57.5.10.
- Kumar M, Prashant S, Kamath MV. Enhancing the sustainability of high strength concrete in terms of embodied energy and carbon emission by incorporating sewage sludge and fly ash. Innov Infrastruct Solut. 2022;7(4):240. doi:10.1007/s41062-022-00837-5.
- Mehta PK. Greening of the concrete industry for sustainable development. Concr Int. 2002;24(7):23-28.
- Thomas C, Setién J, Polanco JA, Alaejos P, Sánchez de Juan M. Durability of recycled aggregate concrete. Constr Build Mater. 2013;40:1054-1065. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.11.106.
Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management
| Volume | 16 | |
| Issue | 02 | |
| Received | 20/04/2026 | |
| Accepted | 09/06/2026 | |
| Published | 12/06/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 53 Days |