Low carbon concrete: advancements, challenges and future directions in sustainable construction

Concrete production accounts for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions, underscoring the critical need for innovative low-carbon alternatives to support sustainable construction. This review addresses the environmental impact of conventional concrete and its substantial carbon footprint, emphasizing the urgency for transformative technologies. The study examines emerging low-carbon concrete solutions, including the incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), alkali-activated and geopolymer concrete, carbon capture and utilization (CCU), and recycled aggregates, which collectively show potential to reduce emissions by up to 30–50%. The paper also explores advanced mix design strategies aimed at minimizing emissions while maintaining or enhancing structural performance, which could improve durability by 20–25% and decrease lifecycle costs by up to 15%. Challenges to large-scale implementation are critically analyzed, including regulatory obstacles, technical constraints, and market dynamics, with a particular focus on achieving widespread market acceptance within a decade. Future research directions, such as material innovations, enhanced carbon capture methods, and the integration of digital technologies like AI for predictive modelling, are highlighted as pivotal for global adoption. This review demonstrates that the adoption of low-carbon concrete technologies is essential to achieving international climate targets, such as limiting global warming to 1.5 °C while contributing to the construction sector’s sustainability. The findings provide a robust foundation for international research collaboration and policy development aimed at decarbonizing the construction industry.