Environmental Impact of Concrete in a Green-Certified Building: The Case Study of The Edge, the Netherlands

Although The Edge is widely recognized as one of the most sustainable office buildings in the world, the specific contribution of key material choices, such as concrete used in the structural system, remains unclear. This article examines the environmental impact of the concrete used in The Edge using a life cycle analysis using the software BEES Online 2.1 and the ISO methodology. Because there is little detailed information available about the exact type and volume of concrete, assumptions were made based on reference projects such as other BREEAM-certified projects. The analysis considers the full life cycle of the concrete used from raw material extraction to end-of-life scenarios (cradle-to-grave approach). The results of this research provide insights into the actual contribution of concrete to the reduced ecological footprint achieved through the use of supplementary cementitious materials, such as fly ash and blast furnace slag, both identified as potential alternatives used in this project. These results certainly contribute to a better understanding of how important material choices are to a building’s sustainability performance, particularly in green-certified buildings.