The Cement Industry is One of the Primary Producers of Carbon Dioxide
The cement industry is one of the primary producers of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. The primary production of conventional concrete has a footprint of 456 to 689 pounds of carbon dioxide per 1.3 cubic yards
One interesting alternative is hempcrete. JustBioFiber, a hemp-based modular block supplier, reports that its product sequesters 243 to 287 pounds of carbon dioxide per 1.3 cubic yards, based on the quantity of carbon-storing plant fiber used. Additionally, the blocks re-carbonate an additional 141 pounds per 1.3 cubic yards during the curing process. The company claims that their product also enhances the energy efficiency of buildings with its high insulating capacity-resulting in a 64 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared with building code standards. (source)