Aiming to make the construction industry greener
The construction industry accounts for 40 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions. Mohamad Mustafa, professor at the Department of Civil, Energy and Materials Technology, is working to promote the use of sustainable concrete.
Concrete is a ubiquitous material that, in combination with reinforcement steel, has become increasingly important for the development of modern societies since the mid-19th century.
However, the production and use of concrete also come with several drawbacks, such as high consumption of sand, water, and energy, as well as significant CO2 emissions. What measures can be taken to ensure that concrete becomes part of the solution in supporting a circular economy and a sustainable society?
This was the central question of an online course recently held by UiT in Narvik. The course was supported by the university alliance EUGLOH and brought together master's students and doctoral candidates from several European partner universities.
The course was led by Mohamad Mustafa, professor at the Department of Civil, Energy and Materials Technology at the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology (IVT). For him, the course serves as a bridge between technical design principles and global environmental goals.
"We are facing significant challenges with climate change and increased urbanisation. The course provides a unique opportunity to delve into the role prefabricated concrete structures can play in developing a more efficient, robust, and responsible practice in the construction industry," he emphasises.
Exploring new methods and technology
An important goal of the course is to integrate a sustainability perspective into the decisions made by engineers, which can help ensure that future infrastructure meets both performance and environmental standards.
The course also provides an opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and cultures, fostering innovation in the field of engineering.
Buildings can become more robust if reductions in concrete usage are combined with smart design and high-performance materials. By employing such techniques, the structural weight of buildings can be reduced, better protection against vibrations can be achieved, and the lifespan of the building can be extended.
The course demonstrates how advanced structural design methods and modern techniques for material efficiency are applied, using real-world scenarios. Participants also learn about the processes behind the prefabrication of concrete elements.
The course provides a unique opportunity to delve into the role prefabricated concrete structures can play in developing a more efficient, robust, and responsible practice in the construction industry.
By using such elements, it is possible to reduce the use of concrete and the amount of waste products associated with design, maintenance, and demolition. This can help accelerate construction processes and facilitate higher-quality buildings without compromising safety standards.
"The course can enhance the professional expertise of participants, preparing them for a research career or new roles in the industry or construction sector. It provides a platform to explore new methods and contribute to the development of various forms of sustainable building practices," says Mustafa.
Course on the use of sustainable concrete
- In the spring of 2025, the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology in Narvik organised a course on the use of sustainable concrete.
- The course was supported by the university alliance EUGLOH.
- Both master's students and doctoral candidates from European partner universities participated in the course.
- The main theme was the production and use of prefabricated concrete elements.
- By using such elements, it is possible to reduce the use of concrete and the amount of waste products associated with design, maintenance, and demolition.
- This can help accelerate construction processes and facilitate higher quality buildings without compromising safety standards.
Norway leading the way in Europe
According to Mustafa, both the construction industry and architecture in Norway and Europe have shifted towards becoming more sustainable and environmentally friendly in recent decades.
He highlights Mjøstårnet, the world’s tallest timber building, and the CCS facility in Breivik as significant milestones. The latter is the world’s first industrial carbon capture and storage facility built for the cement industry. The facility enables net-zero emissions in concrete production by capturing 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
"Projects like these demonstrate how Norway is leading the way. There are also similar initiatives across Europe, including concrete recycling projects and experiments with low-carbon cement," Mustafa points out.
He notes that the construction industry across Europe has reduced energy consumption in cement production by approximately 30 percent in recent decades.
"A number of stakeholders are actively working on low-carbon innovations, including clinker substitution, alternative fuel types, and recycling of concrete waste," he adds.
Sustainable building practices should no longer be optional; they are a necessity.
The collective scope of such initiatives can help accelerate the transition to greener construction methods. This is also in line with the EU’s and the Paris Agreement’s goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Mustafa also points out that new legislation, particularly the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and revisions to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), sets clear frameworks requiring the construction industry to adhere to more sustainable and performance-based standards.
The flipped classroom
In the online course, participants utilise problem-based learning and the flipped classroom method.
This involves active, student-centred learning. Instead of passively listening to lectures, participants first study the curriculum independently. They then engage in interactive sessions to solve problems based on real-world scenarios.
"This approach encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and the practical application of theoretical concepts. It makes the learning process more engaging and effective," says Mustafa.
Benefitted greatly from the course
One of the participants in the course was Hundaol Dega, a master's student at Lund University.
He is writing a master's thesis in the field of architecture, comparing the life cycle of a prefabricated concrete structure with a bio-based alternative for an agricultural building in Sweden.
"The technical insights I gained are something I can carry forward into future studies and design decisions. Especially where I come from in Ethiopia, where outdated construction methods are still widespread, courses like this give me an opportunity to promote more modern approaches. This can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable built environment," says Dega.
Another participant in the course was Himadri Gulalia. She is a master's student at Lund University, studying energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building design.
For her, the course aligned perfectly with her current field of study. She believes the course should be mandatory for all engineers.
"Sustainable building practices should no longer be optional; they are a necessity. The course helped me see concrete in a new light - particularly prefabrication methods that save time and reduce waste. These are lessons I can carry forward both in my studies and future work," she emphasises.
Gulalia mentions that one of her greatest sources of inspiration has been Lawrence Wilfred Baker, a pioneer in India in sustainable design and organic architecture.
"His work is the reason I entered this field in the first place. Throughout my career, I’ve wanted to understand how prefabrication can make building with reinforced concrete more efficient and sustainable. It’s also thought-provoking to see how different regions approach materials - for instance, timber is widely used in Nordic countries but is prohibited in India. These contrasts make me reflect on what sustainable choices might look like in different contexts," says Gulalia.
Concrete cannot be replaced
For Mustafa, there is no way around concrete if we are to build sustainable societies in the future. He argues that it is a material uniquely suited for durability, versatility, and availability.
"While materials like cross-laminated timber, recycled aggregates, and geopolymer concrete show promising properties, none of them can fully replace concrete—especially in infrastructure and high-load environments," he says.
Instead, he believes we should focus on making concrete greener by reducing cement content, using alternative binders, and implementing carbon capture technologies.
"Even though we are not entirely dependent on traditional concrete, it will continue to play a central role. But this requires adapting it for sustainable use, which is what we aim to contribute to with this course," Mustafa concludes.