Comparative Study of Global Warming Potential and Production Cost of Concrete Mixes Incorporating Waste and Recycled Material

Concrete is a widely used construction material. The production and use of concrete contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. While most existing studies focus only on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) production phase to understand and analyze the greenhouse gas emissions generated due to concrete, this research comprehensively compares three life cycle stages: production, construction, and end-of-life. Eight concrete mixes are analyzed for their Global Warming Potential (GWP) and production cost per cubic meter. These mixes include Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, ceramic tile waste powder, and Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) as sustainable alternatives. The main objective is to assess and compare the Global Warming Potential ( GWP) and production cost per cubic meter of each concrete mix against a conventional baseline mix using Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC). Mixes with partial replacement of cement using fly ash and ceramic tile waste powder demonstrate up to 25% reduction in GWP and 7% lower production cost. The fly ash and RCA combination also shows similar environmental benefits and up to 9% cost savings. In contrast, using RCA alone as a partial substitution of coarse aggregates does not significantly alter the outcomes. A key finding is that adding fly ash directly at the concrete batching plant is more environmentally beneficial than using PPC, even when both contain almost equivalent amounts of fly ash. These insights offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution for all stakeholders associated with concrete production.