Acceptance of NORM-contained By-products for sustainable cement: industry and end-user perspectives

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    Abstract

    In recent years, there has been increasing attention on sustainable
    construction materials, particularly in the cement industry, as countries aim to
    mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Cement production is a
    significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, making the shift to
    sustainable alternatives critical for achieving sustainable development goals
    (SDGs). One promising approach is substituting clinker, the main component of
    cement, with secondary raw materials. This substitution not only has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but it also preserves natural resources and supports the circular economy by repurposing industrial by-products. These by-products might otherwise end up in landfills, potentially posing both immediate environmental and health risks and long-term challenges for land use and future generations. Some of these by-products, such as those from the copper or aluminium industries, are classified as Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) due to increased radioactivity during production. Using these materials in cement production provides a beneficial use for substances that would, in most cases, end up as waste at various disposal sites, where they might potentially be hazardous and thus require special conditions.
    While the technical aspects of using NORM-contained by-products in
    cement have been explored, non-technical aspects such as stakeholder
    perceptions have been largely overlooked. This thesis addresses this gap by
    investigating the perceptions of two key stakeholder groups: industry and endusers.
    Due to the lack of prior research, the first step was to explore stakeholder
    perceptions through semi-structured interviews, which allowed for in-depth
    discussions. We began by interviewing representatives from the concrete industry in Belgium, uncovering six themes influencing their perceptions, with regulatory certainty being central to both barriers and facilitators. The exploratory phase continued with a comparative investigation across two additional countries with different contexts (Czechia and Slovenia) and expanded to include end-users (those who had recently built or renovated homes). This comparison revealed that economic and performance concerns were similar across both stakeholder groups and countries, while perceptions of health risks varied.
    To further explore end-user perceptions, we tested the hypotheses generated during the exploratory phase through a survey-based questionnaire. This allowed us to generalise the findings and better understand the factors
    influencing end-users’ attitudes. The survey, conducted across three European
    countries, was based on a framework developed from our qualitative findings and existing literature. We found significant cross-country differences in the factors that influenced end-users' attitudes towards alternative cement. Additionally, our analysis highlighted the important role of heuristics in shaping how risks and benefits are perceived by end-users.
    This thesis provides recommendations for industry stakeholders, policymakers, regulatory authorities, and marketing and communication managers to support the adoption of sustainable cement alternatives.
    Original languageEnglish
    QualificationOther
    Supervisors/Advisors
    • Geysmans, Robbe, SCK CEN Mentor
    • Perko, Tanja, SCK CEN Mentor
    • Malina, Robert, Supervisor, External person
    • Schroeyers, Wouter, Advisor, External person
    Date of Award17 Jan 2025
    StatePublished - 17 Jan 2025

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