Sustainability and the Road to Carbon Neutrality with Low-Density Cellular Concrete (LDCC)

Sustainability is an inclusive concept that seeks to balance the three main pillars of economic, environmental, and social conditions. Today’s infrastructure needs require all architects, engineers, and contractors to make a concerted effort to select materials and construction practices that minimize carbon emissions. One widely accepted geotechnical fill material that can contribute to the sustainability of any project is low-density cellular concrete, or LDCC. LDCC is an engineered mixture of Portland cement, water, and preformed foam that results in a hardened material having an oven-dry density of 50 lb/ft³ (800 kg/m³) or less. LDCC can be selected to not only optimize performance in the field but also reduce the adverse CO₂ impacts often associated with its use. This paper will introduce emerging and traditional LDCC technologies as well as examine the vital role LDCC plays in the cement and concrete industries’ efforts to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.