Resource_study_puts_concrete_on_solid_ground.pdf  [197.19K]

Resource Study puts Concrete on Solid Ground A study by Natrual Resource Canada and the wood industry (see attached pdf)   Sustainable development (SD) is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs of society while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come. Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges facing humanity. As early as the 1970s "sustainability" was employed to describe an economy "in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems." Ecologists have pointed to The limits of Growth, and presented the alternative of a “steady state economy” in order to address environmental concerns. Extracting any raw material from the land whether it be ore, rock, wood or oil takes a toll on the environment. But extracting rock for concrete has the lowest impact of all building materials. In a comprehensive study sponsored by Natural resources Canada and conducted by the Canadian wood research institute Forintek, the effects of resource extraction, transportation, processing, construction, use, recycling and ultimate disposal were all evaluated. In effect, a view of the craddle to grave use and effect of each material Of significance in this attached report is the establishment of the environmental impact to the land of the extraction of the raw material, long term disruption to the land, its remediation and effect on wildlife.  The environmental impact of wood harvesting has been rated as high vs low for resource extraction for concrete. A quantifiable index was established by this study that rates resource extraction for concrete as 1.0 – 1.50 and benchmarks the extraction of wood or cutting forest as between 2.5 and 3.2 times higher (the latter being coastal forest). Concrete is a truly sustainable products, when a structure reaches its intended life , the concrete can be fully recycled, crushed and used again as aggregate for more concrete.