Abstract

In response to growing climate change concerns, researchers are focused on decreasing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions or carbon footprint. The building sector is a major contributor of carbon footprint or CO₂eq. One way to decrease the CO₂eq associated with building practices is to use materials that have a smaller carbon footprint. Polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete (PFRC) is a versatile and high performance concrete particularly for industrial and building floors. However, the use of PFRC to reduce CO₂eq is not yet well recognized in the construction industry. This paper outlines the relevant background information needed for the determination of carbon footprint of PFRC. Different phases including extrusion of fiber from polypropylene pellets, cutting to the required length, bagging, distribution and transportation to the construction sites are considered. The system boundary and other key parameters in the assessment of carbon footprint are also presented. A 150,000 square feet floor was used as a case study and details of the assessment are outlined. The calculations presented in this paper demonstrate that it is possible to reduce the CO₂eq by 56% for the example floor if PFRC is used in place of steel reinforced concrete. On a global basis, large reductions of CO₂eq are feasible.