The Importance of Concrete to the World Economy

Right behind water, concrete is the second most widely used substance in the world, and as such, it is an enormous industry with billions of tons produced annually.  In the United States alone, it is a $200 billion industry and more than 500,000 people are employed in some form of career that involves concrete.

The size of the industry reflects the versatility of concrete and its many applications.  It is used in the construction of roads, bridges, dams and public works as well as most office buildings, retail stores and parking structures throughout the world.  Concrete is also used in the construction of some of the safest, most energy-efficient homes.  In addition it is pumped up to extreme heights to build today’s skyscrapers and other building projects. 

Compared to wood, asphalt and most other construction materials, concrete is very durable and will last for decades.  And unlike other materials, it gets stronger as it ages.   Also it is extremely good at standing up to natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods.  Add to that the fact that it is fire resistant to make it one of the safest construction materials available.   

Even after several decades of use, concrete can be recycled into an aggregate that has a variety of different uses.  It is commonly used as backfill or as gravel in new construction projects.  The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) points out that concrete is “green” as it does not contain toxic runoff as asphalt does and is produced locally from abundant local sources.  Thus the mere sustainability of concrete makes it a good choice both environmentally and economically.

Sources:concretehelper.com/concrete-facts/,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_Industry_Management

When your project demands exceptional services and the best value, The Conco Companies can deliver.  We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.