The scientific community is shifting its focus towards construction materials with a low carbon footprint, such as alkali-activated concrete (AAC). The present study conducts an environmental impact assessment using the cradle-to-grave approach to examine the environmental implications of three different types of ambient-cured AACs with varied combinations of precursors. The 28-day compressive strength values of the concrete mixes used for comparing environmental impacts vary from 35 to 55 MPa. Among these mixtures, the one with the least environmental impact is chosen for further impact assessment with the inclusion of fibers. Three different fiber reinforced AAC mixes containing 0.3% steel, glass, and polypropylene fibers, respectively by volume of AAC, are used in this study. The findings show that Portland Cement concrete has 86% and 34% higher impacts than AAC on the ecosystem and human health, respectively. In the production of AAC, sodium silicate is found to have the highest impact on the environment, in the range of 30–50% of the total impact. Among the various fibers used, glass fibers have the highest impact, which is 12% and 13% higher than that of the plain AAC mix, on the ecosystem and human health, respectively.

The effects of steel, polyvinyl alcohol, polypropylene and glass fibre reinforcements on alkali-activated concrete (AAC) were investigated by conducting various mechanical strength tests. The fibre dosage was 0.1–0.3% by volume of AAC. Furthermore, the effects of acidic exposure on the strength of fibre-reinforced alkali-activated concretes (FRAACs) were examined by immersing samples in 10% v/v solutions of hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid or nitric acid for 28 days. It was found that fibre additions improved the compressive and flexural strength by up to 13% and 27%, respectively, while the modulus of elasticity was significantly improved by up to 52%. Acid attack tests on AAC specimens demonstrated sulfuric acid to be highly detrimental to the mechanical and chemical properties of AACs. The strength loss in FRAAC after acidic exposure was up to 50% less than that of the plain AAC. The glass-fibre-reinforced AACs were found to be highly resistant to acid attack, whereas the steel-fibre-reinforced AACs had less resistance. These findings were further validated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which showed the changes in the microstructure of the specimens subjected to acidic environments. Overall, the fibre reinforcements improved the mechanical and durability properties of AACs.