Innovative and sustainable concrete materials

Concrete is one of the most important construction materials, widely used in civil engineering. Its mechanical properties, durability, and versatility make it suitable for various types of construction. However, its ecological impact is important, due to the raw materials that constitute their components and its great environmental footprint. The possible solutions to decrease the energy consumption, the CO2 emissions, and the resources waste related to its production and demolition are in the use of more sustainable components, the reuse of materials, the recycling of constituents, and the use of sustainable energy supply. This chapter summarized the main strategies to improve the sustainability of concrete, with particular attention to waste recycled materials and by-products from industry or agriculture which can be added to the matrix material. Concrete is suitable for the addition/replacement of different types of substances due to its composite nature, but crucial is the evaluation and the control of the properties and performances of the recycled building material.