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LCEFORCE

Integrated application of life cycle engineering in construction sector

LCEFORCE

LCEFORCE is an institutional research project funded through the NextGenerationEU call for institutional research projects—Strengthening the Competitiveness of Young Scientists.

Project Summary

The EU recognises the construction sector as crucial for achieving climate goals. Therefore, it is essential to ensure reliable access to raw materials, support decarbonisation, enable the transition to a circular economy, and promote more efficient resource use alongside waste reduction. The LCEFORCE project builds on previous research that has primarily focused on the technical aspects of sustainability in construction. Through LCEFORCE, existing solutions will be critically evaluated within a broader sustainability context. This will be achieved through efficient building-level design and the application of Life Cycle Engineering methodology to develop innovative materials that maintain high technical and structural standards in the finished products.

Project Team Members

First Year Results

Papers 3

Skejić, Davor; Antić, Marko; Carević, Ivana; Gkantou, MichaelaReuse of Aluminium Structural Components in Circular Construction: A Life Cycle Assessment of a Portal Frame Tent StructureBuildings, 16 (2026), 13; 2610-2636. doi: 10.3390/buildings16132610
Carević, Ivana; Kelemen, Rene; Adžaga, Nikola; Štirmer, NinaEnvironmental safety and professional acceptance of wood biomass ash and sewage sludge ash in construction productsResults in Engineering, 31 (2026), -; 111600. doi: 10.1016/j.rineng.2026.111600
Carević, Ivana; Bajto, Jelena Šantek; Grubor, Martina; Štirmer, NinaWood biomass ash as a clinker substitute in advancing next-generation blended cement: Croatian case studyScientific Reports, 16 (2026), 3932; 1-19. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-33867-x

Conference participation and dissemination 6

Carević, IvanaKAKO SE STVARNO MJERI UTJECAJ MATERIJALA KROZ ŽIVOTNI CIKLUS?GBC online edukacija: Održivi materijali i tehnologije u graditeljstvu: novi propisi, LCA i EPD, 01.07.2026.
Carević, IvanaEPD U PROJEKTANTSKOJ PRAKSIGBC online edukacija: Održivi materijali i tehnologije u graditeljstvu: novi propisi, LCA i EPD, 01.07.2026.
Baričević, Ana; Carević, Ivana; Medved, Dora; Didulica, KatarinaEnvironmental Impact of Material Choices in UHPC: An LCA PerspectiveGNP 2026: The 10th International Conference CIVIL ENGINEERING - SCIENCE AND PRACTICE, Budva, Montenegro, March 4-7, 2026
Carević, Ivana; Milovanović, BojanMetodologija izračuna utjecaja zgrada na okolišZbornik sažetaka predavanja XX. dani Hrvatske komore inženjera građevinarstva / Štimac Grandić, Ivana; Dražin Lovrec, Nina (ur.). Zagreb: Hrvatska komora inženjera građevinarstva, 2026. str. 91-91
Carević, IvanaGreen public procurement and circular economy in Croatia construction sectorUNIC City Lab, course Perspectives on Sustainability: Case study of the City of Zagreb, lecture, May 18, 2026
Carević, IvanaProject-based learning applied to LCA educationproject Skill2Sustain, study visit, Zagreb, December 3, 2025.

Popularization of science 1

Carević, Ivana; Flegar Pregernik, Matea; Gilja, VanjaKoliko CO2 stane u jedan život?interactive lecture, Festival of Science, Nikola Tesla Technical Museum, April 22, 2026.

Mobility 1

Exploratory research stay of Marija Mendeš:Supercritical carbonation of materials(April 17 – May 15, 2026, Borås, Sweden), mobility funding provided by the ASCCENT project (Active storage of captured CO2 in net zero construction products).

Undergraduate and Graduate theses 2

Golubić, LukasABSOLUTE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT (AESA) METHODOLOGY ON THE CONCRETE EXAMPLECarević, Ivana (mentor). Zagreb, Faculty of Civil Engineering, 2026
Matković, BepoANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF CONCRETE AND CEMENT ON THE CROATIAN MARKETCarević, Ivana (mentor). Zagreb, Faculty of Civil Engineering, 2026

New project proposals 6

successful application
HRZZ project: RASTER Sustainable design of concrete structures within planetary boundaries (UIP-2026-6583)project leader: Ivana Carević; collaborators: Marija Mendeš and Marinko Sladoljev
successful application
DIGIT.2.1.02.012, ACCEL - Accelerated mineral carbonation of secondary raw materials as a strategy for carbon storage in construction productscollaborator: Ivana Carević
submitted
LIFE-2026-CET-POLICY, Proposal number 101388261, CARBONPATH - A Common Path Towards National Implementation of the EPBD's Life-Cycle GWP Obligation
submitted, not approved
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01, Proposal number: 101309256, REGENHOOD REGENerative neighborHOOD – the state of being regenerative together
pending Grant Agreement signature
IRI S3 – Increase in the development of new products and services resulting from research and development activities, Project application CIRCULARIS.AI: Integrated platform for digitalization and process monitoring in the AEC industry according to Industry 5.0 principlescollaborator: Ivana Carević
successful application
ERASMUS-EDU-2026: Circular Construction Skills Alliance for Competitive and Resource Efficient Built Environment, CIRC4BUILDcollaborator: Ivana Carević