Luc Rens, Managing Director of EUPAVE (the European Concrete Paving Association) and longtime member and board member of ISCP, highlights the imperative of sustainable construction in the face of global challenges, writes Richard High for Concrete Connect. The construction industry, including road infrastructure, faces increasing pressure to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve complete decarbonization by 2050, aligning with the UN’s vision of sustainability.
Rens emphasizes the significance of road construction in the transport sector’s sustainability efforts, especially considering the anticipated rise in freight transport’s environmental impact. To address this, decision-makers must prioritize sustainable solutions in road pavement selection, considering factors like the circular economy, infrastructure resilience, and water management.
EUPAVE asserts that rigid solutions, such as concrete pavements and hydraulically bound base layers, offer a pathway to a more sustainable and resilient transportation network. The association’s Sustainability & Resilience Working Group has developed fact sheets detailing concrete’s contributions to sustainability and resilience, based on international practice and research.
The fact sheets cover various aspects, including concrete’s role in reducing CO2 emissions, utilizing local materials, offering long service life and recyclability, enhancing resilience to climate change, and promoting ecological water management. EUPAVE’s compilation of fact sheets serves as a comprehensive guide for decision-makers, encouraging them to prioritize choices that benefit the economy, environment, and society in the long term.
In conclusion, concrete roads play a vital role in creating a greener and more resilient transportation system capable of addressing current challenges and future needs. EUPAVE’s fact sheets provide valuable insights, urging decision-makers to adopt sustainable practices for a more sustainable and resilient future.
Read more here: https://www.concreteconnect.co.uk/concrete-insights/putting-sustainability-and-resilience-at-the-heart-of-concrete-paving