Concrete in Brazil: Brief history, current challenges, and proposals for a sustainable future

Abstract

The concrete production sector is fundamental in civil construction and human activities in general, being the most abundant manufactured product in the world. Its production generates environmental consequences and contributes to the acceleration of climate change. This work aims to identify modern solutions for sustainable concrete production through the incorporation of recycled materials. Initially, an exploratory study of a documentary nature was carried out on the history of concrete, in order to identify the main characteristics that led to its widespread adoption. Then, a literature review was conducted on studies that seek to overcome the problems of concrete, with a focus on the incorporation of materials from various sources. Finally, with the data at hand, the similar aspects of each proposal were compiled, and it was observed that, despite the negative effects on the original characteristics of the product, concretes with recycled materials still have compatible characteristics that allow their mass adoption. It is concluded that the incorporation of alternative materials in concrete has a high potential for waste recycling and can contribute to the production of a more ecological concrete, without excessively compromising its fundamental characteristics.