Slag cement in concrete reduces the environmental impact of concrete construction, according to new research commissioned by the Texas-based Slag Cement Association. The study comprises two Life Cycle Inventories (LCI) examining the manufacture of slag cement and slag cement concrete.

Research performed by Skokie, Ill.-based Construction Technology Laboratories, Inc. shows that replacing portland cement with slag cement in 5,000-psi concrete mix in amounts of 35% and 50% reduces greenhouse gas emissions per cubic yard of concrete by 31% and 45%, respectively. The embodied energy to produce concrete is similarly reduced. Concrete is widely considered to contribute to sustainable design and construction practices, and the research shows that slag cement can make concrete construction even more “green.”

The LCIs compile information on materials and energy inputs — as well as emissions to air, land, and water — associated with the manufacture of slag cement concrete. The studies look at the process from “cradle to gate,” considering energy, materials, and emissions from raw materials extraction to the ready-mixed concrete plant.