Project Portugal 2030

Summary

GlassCON_4low project intends to provide LOW emissions and LOW energy consumption through LOW cement consumption, using materials with LOW embodied energy (glass waste). In addition to ensuring the continuity of the investigation initiated in March 2023 with the GlassCON exploratory project, the main objectives of GlassCON_4low are aimed to overcome three main problems found in the state of the art: i) lack of a material to replace FA in concrete production since that its unavailability (related to thermal power plants closure) had a negative impact on sustainability and cost of concrete produced in Portugal; ii) high energy consumption and significant carbon emissions related to the cement industry that is a growing concern nowadays due to the impacts of climate change on everyday life and compromising future generations; and iii) increase in the amount of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and lack of a sustainable final destination (valorisation) for certain types of glass waste, such as that from fluorescent lamps (FL) and Cathodic Ray Tube (CRT) displays which, due to their heavy metal content and difficult decontamination process, have been disposed of in landfills against the precepts of the circular economy and sustainability. This proposal aims to contribute to the development of knowledge through an experimental investigation whose the main objectives are: i) to contribute to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 through the development of an improved concrete mixture that uses waste instead of cement (partial replacement), reducing the environmental impact without compromising the mechanical and durability performances; ii) to promote the circular economy by incorporating in the concrete mixture a waste (glass), whose chemical composition has little variability (a recurring problem for recycled materials) and exists in high quantity throughout the world; iii) valuing glass waste that does not yet have an adequate final destination (as FL, CRT and LCD glass) and/or is not incorporated into a consolidated value chain; iv) in light of the outputs from GlassCON exploratory project, the development of a more sustainable concrete using various types of glass waste (from bottle, FL, CRT and LCD glass) as a substitute for FA and cement to reach a LOW cement concrete mixture toward decarbonization; v) define a complete production methodology whose scope covers everything from the characteristics of the materials to the mixing and curing conditions of the concrete developed; and vi) to develop knowledge about the potential and advantages of using this new substitute of FA and cement, glass powder, through a partnership with a construction company (DST group, see “Carta de apoio_DST” in the attachments) which will provide the production of prototypes and knowledge transfer to the industry, and a social support institution (GAF, see “Carta de apoio_GAF” in the attachments), which will transform knowledge into a benefit for society. Moreover, the development of an improved concrete mixture (in addition to all the environmental gains) can contribute to more sustainable construction, to the satisfaction of both the European Commission's and United Nations's Sustainable Development Goals.