A Review on the Use of Alternative Materials as a Sustainable Approach in the Manufacture of Concrete Paver Blocks

Rapid urbanization and industrialization worldwide have been the ticking concern of the hour since it has led to a scarcity of conventional construction materials. The paving industry is posed with a challenge to strive for innovations in road construction being engrossed with the escalating awareness of sustainability and shortfall of natural resources. The humongous demand for energy efficient construction materials can only be met through the implementation of cost-effective environmentally appropriate technologies incorporating locally available alternative materials. Wastes from the industrial sector together with the construction and demolition wastes are another serious issue of concern in developing countries in lieu of its environmental impact and disposal problems posing stringent environmental laws. Recycling these wastes by incorporating in a versatile and indispensable construction material like concrete can serve as an attractive option for the road sector striking a chord of the economy both in terms of material acquisition and disposal costs. The backdrop of the present study lies in the use of different industrial waste and by-products as an alternative to the components of concrete in the production of paver blocks. Replacing the components of concrete like cement and aggregates with these alternative materials will help in saving energy and reducing the carbon footprints across the globe. Comparative analysis of the different alternative materials used by researchers in the paver block manufacturing has been presented in the current study.