Eco-friendly cityscape with buildings made of aerated concrete and plants.

Building Greener: How Eco-Friendly Concrete Can Transform Construction

Reese Marlowe in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how innovative techniques are turning industrial waste into high-performance, environmentally friendly aerated concrete, paving the way for sustainable building practices."

In an era defined by environmental consciousness, the construction industry is under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Traditional building materials and methods often contribute significantly to pollution and resource depletion. This has spurred a search for innovative solutions that minimize environmental impact without compromising structural integrity and performance.

One promising avenue lies in the recycling of industrial waste to create environmentally friendly concrete. This approach not only addresses the growing problem of waste disposal but also offers a way to reduce the reliance on conventional, resource-intensive raw materials. By transforming waste into valuable building materials, we can move closer to a circular economy in the construction sector.

Recent research has focused on the production of aerated concrete using various types of industrial waste. Aerated concrete, known for its lightweight properties and thermal insulation, can be further enhanced by incorporating recycled materials. This article delves into the methods, benefits, and implications of using industrial waste to create high-performance, eco-friendly aerated concrete, offering a glimpse into the future of sustainable construction.

Turning Waste into Walls: The Science of Eco-Friendly Aerated Concrete

Eco-friendly cityscape with buildings made of aerated concrete and plants.

The core of this innovation lies in the feasibility of substituting traditional raw materials with recycled industrial waste in the production of aerated concrete. Researchers have been exploring the use of various waste materials, assessing their impact on both the environment and the final product's performance. The goal is to create concrete that meets required construction and operational standards while significantly reducing environmental harm.

A key aspect of this process is the environmental assessment of the waste materials. This involves analyzing the types and volumes of waste from different industries, as well as their potential impact on affected areas. By carefully evaluating these factors, researchers can determine whether specific wastes are suitable for use in aerated concrete production.

Here are the types of waste that can be used to create aerated concrete:

Phosphogypsum: A byproduct of phosphate fertilizer production.
Whey: Waste from the dairy industry.
Distillers Grains: Waste from alcohol production.
Hardener - sodium thiosulfate (STS)

The use of these materials not only diverts waste from landfills but also contributes to a reduction in the overall carbon footprint of construction. Traditional concrete production is energy-intensive and releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide. By incorporating recycled waste, the energy requirements and emissions associated with concrete production can be substantially reduced. The assessment of industrial wastes in aerated concrete production suggests that industrial wastes of hazard class IV can be recycled to produce aerated concrete.

Building a Sustainable Future, One Block at a Time

The development and implementation of eco-friendly aerated concrete represent a significant step forward in sustainable construction. By turning industrial waste into high-performance building materials, we can reduce environmental impact, conserve resources, and create more sustainable communities. As research continues and new technologies emerge, the potential for eco-friendly concrete to transform the construction industry is vast, promising a greener and more resilient future for all.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1051/matecconf/201814302010, Alternate LINK

Title: Production Of Environmentally Friendly Aerated Concrete With Required Construction And Operational Properties

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: MATEC Web of Conferences

Publisher: EDP Sciences

Authors: Evgeniya Tkach, Vladimir Solovyov, Semen Tkach

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What makes aerated concrete "eco-friendly" when it's made using industrial waste?

Aerated concrete becomes eco-friendly by substituting traditional raw materials with recycled industrial waste. This process reduces the need for resource-intensive materials and helps in waste disposal. Using materials like phosphogypsum, whey, and distillers grains lowers the carbon footprint of construction by reducing the energy required and emissions associated with traditional concrete production. This promotes a circular economy by transforming waste into valuable building materials.

Which specific types of industrial waste are being explored for use in eco-friendly aerated concrete?

Several types of industrial waste are being explored for use in aerated concrete, including: phosphogypsum, a byproduct of phosphate fertilizer production; whey, a waste product from the dairy industry; distillers grains, waste from alcohol production; and the hardener sodium thiosulfate (STS). Researchers assess these materials to ensure they meet construction and operational standards while reducing environmental harm.

How does using industrial waste in aerated concrete help reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry?

Traditional concrete production is energy-intensive and releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide. By incorporating recycled waste like phosphogypsum, whey, and distillers grains, the energy requirements and emissions associated with concrete production can be substantially reduced. This is because using waste materials lessens the need to extract and process new raw materials, which are major contributors to carbon emissions in the construction sector.

What are the key benefits of using eco-friendly aerated concrete made from industrial waste in construction projects?

The key benefits include reducing environmental impact by diverting waste from landfills, conserving resources by using recycled materials, and lowering the carbon footprint of construction. Eco-friendly aerated concrete, incorporating waste materials such as phosphogypsum, whey, and distillers grains, also offers lightweight properties and thermal insulation, contributing to more sustainable and resilient communities. Furthermore, using industrial wastes of hazard class IV in aerated concrete production promotes a circular economy.

What are the potential long-term implications of using eco-friendly aerated concrete in the construction industry, and what further developments might we see?

The long-term implications include a significant shift towards sustainable construction practices, reducing the environmental impact of the industry and promoting a circular economy. As research continues and new technologies emerge, we may see further innovations in the types of industrial waste that can be incorporated into aerated concrete, such as phosphogypsum, whey and distillers grains, potentially including wastes of even higher hazard classes. This could lead to even greater reductions in carbon emissions, improved material performance, and increased adoption of eco-friendly building materials worldwide. The development of advanced assessment methods for industrial waste and the optimization of aerated concrete production processes could also drive this transformation.