Abstract
Aggregates are major constituents in construction, the global demand for which
approaches some 22 billion tonnes per year. Some major challenges follow: firstly, the dependency
on geological conditions and the availability of resources; secondly, the traffic, emissions and
energy use connected with transportation; thirdly, the technology of utilizing resources with a
variety of properties to meet user requirements; and finally, the need for increased awareness, particularly
over issues like land-use conflicts, environmental impact of the aggregate and quarrying
industry, and the need to make these activities sustainable.
Aggregate standards have primarily been written by engineers, and engineers are first of all
concerned with technical requirements. However, in the future, there will be a greater focus on
environmental impact and sustainability.
Geological resources are non-renewable, which, for example, can be seen in the rapid depletion
of natural sand/gravel deposits. This causes increasing awareness along with environmental
impact, conflicts of interest concerning land use, sustainability in mass balance and – not
least – increasing transport distances required to get the materials to the places of use.
The principle of a Best Available Concept (BAC) for aggregate production and use is introduced,
working with four essential phases: inventory and planning; quarrying and production; use of
aggregates; and reclamation of mined-out areas. In order to compare alternatives and calculate
environmental and economic consequences of decisions, it is recommended that new LCC (Life
Cycle Cost) and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) tools are worked with, which have been recently
developed in two EU (European Union) funded research projects.
approaches some 22 billion tonnes per year. Some major challenges follow: firstly, the dependency
on geological conditions and the availability of resources; secondly, the traffic, emissions and
energy use connected with transportation; thirdly, the technology of utilizing resources with a
variety of properties to meet user requirements; and finally, the need for increased awareness, particularly
over issues like land-use conflicts, environmental impact of the aggregate and quarrying
industry, and the need to make these activities sustainable.
Aggregate standards have primarily been written by engineers, and engineers are first of all
concerned with technical requirements. However, in the future, there will be a greater focus on
environmental impact and sustainability.
Geological resources are non-renewable, which, for example, can be seen in the rapid depletion
of natural sand/gravel deposits. This causes increasing awareness along with environmental
impact, conflicts of interest concerning land use, sustainability in mass balance and – not
least – increasing transport distances required to get the materials to the places of use.
The principle of a Best Available Concept (BAC) for aggregate production and use is introduced,
working with four essential phases: inventory and planning; quarrying and production; use of
aggregates; and reclamation of mined-out areas. In order to compare alternatives and calculate
environmental and economic consequences of decisions, it is recommended that new LCC (Life
Cycle Cost) and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) tools are worked with, which have been recently
developed in two EU (European Union) funded research projects.