How to Assess the Environmental Sustainability of Geopolymers? A Live Cycle Perspective

Geopolymers as an alternative binder system gains growing attention in research and development. Outstanding technical properties like high strength, high acid resistance, or high temperature resistance can be unerringly achieved. Thus geopolymers are not only suitable for the development of building products, but are also interesting binder systems for ceramic applications. Besides the technical performance of geopolymers, which is well investigated, only limited scientific knowledge exists about the environmental sustainability of geopolymers [1]. Due to the wide range of suitable raw materials and hence resulting, different geopolymer compositions for distinct application fields a generally statement about the environmental implications cannot be addressed to geopolymers. A more detailed analysis and assessment is needed, to provide more diversified statements.