Masonry is one of the oldest building materials used by man and has been around for thousands of years and is still the most widely used building material. The rich heritage of historic masonry buildings in Canada, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world bears testimony to the sustainability of masonry as a building material.
Durability
One of the best reasons for using masonry is its durability and potential for reuse and salvage. Most masonry units can be reused when carefully dismantled. In fact, there is a significant market in Canada for reclaimed clay brick.
Recycled Content
Many concrete block manufacturers use flash and slag as a portion of their cement in their products. These products reduce the quantity of cement and thus reduce CO2 emissions and increase the amount of recycled content. In addition, quantities of recycled aggregate can be used in some products.
CO2 Capture
New CarbonCure Technology uses CO₂ as an ingredient in the concrete mixing process, creating a more sustainable masonry product with a lower carbon footprint.