Demand-side factors as dominant drivers of resource efficiency in the concrete aggregates cycle

Cao, Z., Liu, J., Su, X., Song, J., Zhong, X., Watari, T., Behrens, P., & Zhang, T. (2026). Demand-side factors as dominant drivers of resource efficiency in the concrete aggregates cycle. Nature Sustainability 10.1038/s41893-026-01860-5.

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Abstract

Cement, concrete and aggregates are essential to modern infrastructure, but drive substantial resource use. We develop an integrated framework of the global concrete aggregates cycle, combining flows, stocks and services into a resource-use intensity metric, defined as resource use per unit of the Human Development Index. Using data for 184 economies from 1990 to 2018, we attribute changes to production- and demand-side drivers. Production-side improvements, such as clinker substitution or efficiency gains in concrete formulation, have yielded only marginal reductions. By contrast, demand-side drivers dominate. Developing economies face large imbalances between inflows and outflows, while industrialized economies show stock saturation and declining turnover. Effective levers include extending building lifespans, reducing material stock intensity through design and urban planning, and enabling reuse and structural intensification. These results highlight the decisive role of demand-side strategies in advancing resource sustainability, while underscoring the importance of linking resource efficiency to social welfare rather than economic output.

Item Type:	Article
Research Programs:	Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) > Integrated Assessment and Climate Change (IACC)
Depositing User:	Luke Kirwan
Date Deposited:	29 Jun 2026 07:47
Last Modified:	29 Jun 2026 07:47
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/21686

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