Life Cycle Assessment of the Production of Concrete Masonry Units in the United Arab Emirates

This life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts of concrete masonry units (CMU) production in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Two CMU products are considered: hollow (H-CMU) and solid (S-CMU). A cradle-to-gate approach was used in conducting the LCA. The methodology proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and ISO 14040 was adopted. The analyzed data encompassing the unit processes involved in producing H-CMU and S-CMU was utilized to facilitate the LCA analysis. The results revealed that the global warming potential (GWP) to produce one of H-CMU and S-CMU was 2.2747 and 3.7630 kg CO2eq, respectively. Cement was the primary contributor to GWP for both types of units. A comparative analysis between CMU production in the UAE and elsewhere indicated a lesser environmental impact, except when compared to zero-cement CMU. This finding further reinforces the argument for substituting cement with other environment-friendly materials. Yet, the LCA results obtained in this study depend on the specified boundaries, assumptions, and technological practices employed during the CMU production at the time of the study. These outcomes lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive LCA encompassing the entire life cycle of these products, from cradle-to-grave. Furthermore, they may be used as region-specific life cycle inventory (LCI) values tailored to the UAE and similar regions.