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A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Understanding Carbon-Negative Potential of Hempcrete Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach
Recognizing climate change’s severity, reducing the construction industry’s greenhouse gas emissions is crucial in material science, architecture, civil engineering, and construction science. Novel bio-based materials like hempcrete are being developed to lessen the environmental impact of construction. Hempcrete, increasingly used in traditional and advanced construction like large-scale 3D printing, is considered carbon-negative due to the biogenic and sequestered carbon of its components. Given the high carbon footprint of Portland cement, hempcrete offers a sustainable alternative for emerging construction technologies. However, hempcrete’s carbon neutrality or negativity depends on the hemp and lime content in the mix. A thorough Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), therefore, becomes important to understand carbon negativity potential of this material. In this paper, we present the results of a cradle-to-gate LCA of hempcrete mixes that have been proposed and examined in empirical studies. The LCA also includes a process-based hybrid cradle-to-gate impact assessment of hemp produced in the United States. The results indicate that the total global warming potential of hemp is roughly −1.72 kgCO2e/kg, and carbon negativity can only be reached with at least 20% of hemp by weight in the hempcrete mix. Findings also show that consideration of carbon absorption of lime binder is essential to reach carbon negativity. Our results further indicate that a balance of carbon negativity and hempcrete’s compressive strength will be more desirable to address both climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Understanding Carbon-Negative Potential of Hempcrete Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach
Recognizing climate change’s severity, reducing the construction industry’s greenhouse gas emissions is crucial in material science, architecture, civil engineering, and construction science. Novel bio-based materials like hempcrete are being developed to lessen the environmental impact of construction. Hempcrete, increasingly used in traditional and advanced construction like large-scale 3D printing, is considered carbon-negative due to the biogenic and sequestered carbon of its components. Given the high carbon footprint of Portland cement, hempcrete offers a sustainable alternative for emerging construction technologies. However, hempcrete’s carbon neutrality or negativity depends on the hemp and lime content in the mix. A thorough Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), therefore, becomes important to understand carbon negativity potential of this material. In this paper, we present the results of a cradle-to-gate LCA of hempcrete mixes that have been proposed and examined in empirical studies. The LCA also includes a process-based hybrid cradle-to-gate impact assessment of hemp produced in the United States. The results indicate that the total global warming potential of hemp is roughly −1.72 kgCO2e/kg, and carbon negativity can only be reached with at least 20% of hemp by weight in the hempcrete mix. Findings also show that consideration of carbon absorption of lime binder is essential to reach carbon negativity. Our results further indicate that a balance of carbon negativity and hempcrete’s compressive strength will be more desirable to address both climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Understanding Carbon-Negative Potential of Hempcrete Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach
Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
Kioumarsi, Mahdi (editor) / Shafei, Behrouz (editor) / Shanbhag, Sejal Sanjay (author) / Dixit, Manish Kumar (author)
The International Conference on Net-Zero Civil Infrastructures: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices (NTZR) ; 2024 ; Oslo, Norway
The 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment ; Chapter: 15 ; 169-182
2025-01-09
14 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
Hempcrete , Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) , Carbon negativity , Hemp , Hydrated lime binder , Biogenic carbon , 3D printing Energy , Sustainable Architecture/Green Buildings , Building Materials , Control, Robotics, Mechatronics , Environment, general , Civil Engineering , Structural Materials , Engineering
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