Geosynthetic materials (geosynthetics) are used in many different applications in civil engineering. In most cases, the use of geosynthetics replaces or enhances the use of other materials. The EAGM commissioned ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) and ESU-services Ltd. to quantify the environmental performance of commonly applied construction materials (such as concrete, cement, lime or gravel) versus geosynthetics.

 

To this end a set of comparative Life Cycle Assessment studies were carried out, concentrating on various application cases. The environmental performance of geosynthetics was compared to the performance of competing construction materials used.