My commitment to sustainability in construction began in 2004 – long before the word became a global priority. At that time, my concern was an uncomplicated, yet more urgent: the relentless exhaustion of the natural resources used in the production of building materials. What started as a close focus soon developed into a much broader mission – one that now includes reducing environmental pollution, minimizing waste and rethinking the way we design, build and ultimately live.
The UN -SDGs as a lead frame
The SDGS (Sustainable Development Over (Sustainable Development “(SDGS) of the United Nations) offer a global blueprint for the most urgent challenges of humanity until 2030, and engineering is the focus of this vision. In particular, civil engineering plays a crucial role in the design of a sustainable world:
- SDG 11 (sustainable cities and municipalities): Creation of resistant urban infrastructures, efficient water systems and sustainable waste disposal practices.
- SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production): By promoting reuse, recycling and round economic models that break the cycle of overconsum.
- SDG 14 (Live under water): By combating sources of plastic pollution before reaching our oceans.
As civil engineers, we keep the tools in order to transform these goals from the efforts into tangible results.
Ideas in action
If awareness of the environmental costs of unchecked consumption grows, a fundamental question arises: How can we do the resources we depend, build and live without exhausting?
A project that stands out on my trip researched exactly this challenge. Together with a group of civil and chemical engineering students, we examined paths to reuse plastic waste in concrete production. By inserting polymers into an alternative fine aggregate, we generated a concrete mix that met 60% less compressive strength than conventional mixtures, but still met the requirements for non -structural applications. Interestingly, the density of the mixture was reduced by 16%, which made it easier to and was well suited for pre -made elements. This innovation not only replaced plastic from landfills and waterways, but was also deleted as a valuable resource.
Working with academics at other universities has strengthened my commitment to environmentally friendly building materials. The latest projects have examined the use of recycled aggregates from demolition points as well as industrial by -products such as flight ash and slag in concrete production. These approaches reduce the stress of natural resources and at the same time reduce the CO2 footprint of cement production – one of the world's largest participants for emissions.
At the same time, the research of buildings of the life cycle (LCAS) of buildings has deepened the focus on sustainability. Lcas encourage us to evaluate every phase of the construction process from design to demolition and to make more informed decisions on the way. At EIT, we are currently supervising doctoral students who examine the use of Bayer Bauxite waste (red mud) as a potential cement replacement – another step to transform environmental liabilities into assets.
In engineering, it was always about solving problems. Today it has to be about creating opportunities – opportunities to rethink materials, systems and models that support our industries. If we move away from a linear “Take -Make -Desible” approach and include a circular economy, we can transform waste into value, reduce the effects on the environment and align economic growth with ecological resistance.
The actual challenge is now to inspire the next generation of engineers to see sustainability not as an add-on, but as a guiding principle. Any material, process and design decision must be considered by the lens of long-term environmental responsibility. The solutions we already need; Our task is to use it to refine and scale them.
Ultimately, we can always choose to be friendlier on the planet. As an engineer, we have both the privilege and the responsibility of making this choice – and to ensure that our work contributes not only to the built environment, but also to the health and future of the natural world.
Dr. Ana Evangelista is a civil engineer with over 20 years of experience of academic and industry. Currently she is a course coordinator and lecturer for civil engineering at the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT), where she also contributes to the Academic Board of Directors and coordinates the integrated learning program for integrated learning materials. Her research, including a doctorate on non-destructive tests from concrete, was published internationally and has extensive experience in teaching, advice and research in civil engineering.