Sustainability 02 00400 PDF

Sustainability 2010, 2, 400-427; doi:10.
3390/su2020400
OPEN ACCESS
sustainability
ISSN 2071-1050
www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
Review
Sustainable Non-Metallic Building Materials

Paul Joseph * and Svetlana Tretsiakova-McNally
The Built Environment Research Institute, School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster,
Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK; E-Mail: [email protected]
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected];

Tel.: +44-28-9036-8755; Fax: +44-28-9036-8726.
Received: 7 December 2009 / Accepted: 18 January 2010 / Published: 27 January 2010
Abstract: Buildings are the largest energy consumers and greenhouse gases emitters, both
in the developed and developing countries. In continental Europe, the energy use in
buildings alone is responsible for up to 50% of carbon dioxide emission. Urgent changes
are, therefore, required relating to energy saving, emissions control, production and
application of materials, use of renewable resources, and to recycling and reuse of building
materials. In addition, the development of new eco-friendly building materials and
practices is of prime importance owing to the growing environmental concerns. This
review reflects the key tendencies in the sector of sustainable building materials of a
non-metallic nature that have occurred over the past decade or so.
Keywords: sustainability; sustainable buildings; construction; building materials
1. Introduction
Almost twenty years ago, following the publication of Brundtlands report entitled Our Common
Future [1] and the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the term sustainable development (SD) has gained great
attention worldwide. This concept had been defined as the development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs [1]. SD was
given a further prominence in the context of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development held
in Johannesburg. It became clear that the environment can no longer exist separately from the
development of other associated sectors. The idea of SD involves enhancing the quality of life, thus
allowing people to live in a healthy environment, with improved social, economic and environmental
Sustainability 2010, 2 401
conditions [2]. In recent years, climate change, air pollution, depletion of natural resources and
biodiversity, waste generation, depletion and pollution of water resources and deterioration of the
urban environment became global issues that require urgent actions to be taken. Climate change and
global warming resulting from carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions
pose a huge threat to human welfare. To contain that threat, the world needs to cut the emissions by
about 50% below current levels by 2050 [3,4].
A great quantity of CO2 is emitted to the atmosphere through the whole life-cycle of a building.
This includes the production of building materials (BM), the construction of a building itself, the
exploitation, renovation, possible rehabilitation and its final demolition [5]. Construction industry is
intensively growing and actively developing worldwide. Only in Europe, construction is the largest
industrial employer, accounting for 7% of total employment and 28% of industrial employment at least
in fifteen EU countries [6]. On the other hand, this sector is responsible for such environmental
burdens as high energy and water consumption, solid waste generation, global GHG emissions,
external and internal pollution and depletion of natural resources. Annually, building construction in
the world consumes: 25% of the global wood harvest; 40% of stone, sand and gravel; and 16% of
water. It generates 50% of global output of GHG and agents of acid rains. Furthermore,
almost 3 billion tons of raw materials are turned into foundations, walls, pipes and panels [7].
Generally, energy is used for the extraction, transportation, processing of the BM and assembling of
the structures. The CO2 emissions are derived from the combustion of fossil fuels, the land-filling
activities and the reactions taking place in the industrial processes [8]. Some authors estimate that
almost 50% of total energy costs in the developed countries are a consequence of intensive
construction and building practices [4,9,10]. To achieve the goals of SD in building construction, a
combination of factors must be considered, such as energy saving methodologies and techniques
(use of renewable energy resources), improved use of materials, their further reuse/recycle and
emissions control.
A sustainable building is designed, built, renovated, operated or reused in an ecological and
resource efficient manner [7]. It has a minimal negative impact on built and natural environment.
Sustainable building should meet a number of certain objectives: resource and energy efficiency; CO2
and GHG emissions reduction; pollution prevention; mitigation of noise; improved indoor air quality;
harmonization with the environment [11]. An ideal building would be inexpensive to build, last
forever with modest maintenance, but return completely to the earth when abandoned [12].
One of the most important components of a sustainable building is the material efficiency. Correct
selection of BM can be performed by taking into account their complete life time (from cradle to
grave) and by choosing products with the minimal environmental impacts. For instance, Gonzlez
and Navarro estimated that the selection of BM with low environmental impacts can reduce CO2
emissions by up to 30% [5]. The use of renewable and recycled sources is widely encouraged as the
life-cycle of a building and its elements can be closed [13]. The other factors that greatly affect the
selection of BM are their costs and social requirements such as thermal comfort, good mechanical
properties (strength and durability), aesthetic characteristics and an ability to construct quickly. Ideally,
the combination of all environmental, economic and social factors can give a clear description of a
material, and thus helps in a decision making process regarding the selection of the materials suitable
for buildings [14].
The primary aim of this review is to analyze recent advances in the area of non-metallic BM and to
outline future prospects and challenges.
2. Sustainability Aspects of Building Materials
To address the goals of SD the production of materials must use resources and energy from
renewable sources instead of non-renewable ones. Sustainable BM are environmentally responsible
because their impacts are considered over the complete life time of the products. Sustainable BM
should pose no or very minimal environmental and human health risks [15]. They should also satisfy
the following criteria: rational use of natural resources; energy efficiency; elimination or reduction of
generated waste; low toxicity; water conservation; affordability. Sustainable BM can offer a set of
specific benefits to the owner of a building such as reduced maintenance and replacement costs, energy
conservation, improved occupants health and productivity, lower costs associated with changing
space configurations, and greater flexibility in design [7].
The major environmental burdens include embodied energy of BM and GHG emissions originated
from each stage of their life-cycle. Embodied energy is defined as the amount of energy required to
produce a material and supply it to the point of use. It is an important measure of the effectiveness
of BM in the environmental terms [14]. Embodied energy consists of: energy required for the
manufacturing of BM; energy associated with the transportation of raw materials to the factory and of
the finished products to the consumer; energy needed for assembling various BM to form a
building [16]. The results presented by Thormark indicate that embodied energy in traditional building
can be reduced by approximately 1015% through the proper selection of BM with low environmental
impacts [17]. Although the values of embodied energy can vary widely (sometimes by as much
as 100%, depending on the number of factors like country, manufacturing processes, recycling
technologies, methodology of analysis, fuel costs and destination, etc.), they can be considered as
reasonable indicators of an overall environmental impact of BM. Table 1 represents data for embodied
energy and embodied carbon collected from UK and EU sources and worldwide averages of BM that
were used in the UK (except for wood produced in Canada).
In order for decision makers to select materials suitable for sustainable construction, the assessment
of their environmental burdens is necessary. For instance, in the US (California) BM can be considered
as sustainable after each material has gone through a three-stage process involving preliminary
research, evaluation and selection. At first, the research is normally conducted by gathering technical
information including material safety data sheets, data tests of indoor air quality, product warranties,
source material characteristics, recycled content data, environmental statement, and durability
information [7]. After that, further deeper research may be necessary on the issues like building codes,
government regulations, building industry articles, etc. Secondly, BM must undergo evaluation, which
involves confirmation of technical information gathered in the first stage. Life cycle assessment (LCA)
is a well-established methodology for evaluating environmental impacts associated with the entire
product life time [18]. Although rather simple in principle, LCA can be difficult and expensive [2].
The last step, the selection, often involves the use of tables and matrices to score the specific
environmental criteria. The total score of each material will show the product with the best
environmental characteristics [7]. However, it is also important for sustainable development to

consider social and economic factors as well.
Table 1. Embodied energy and embodied carbon of common and alternative BM (taken from [15]).
Embodied Energy Embodied Carbon
Type of Material (1 ton)
(MJ/ton) (kg of CO2/ton)
Limestone 240 12
Stone/gravel chipping 300 16
Rammed earth 450 24
Soil cement 850 140
Concrete, unreinforced (strength 20 MPa) 990 134
Concrete, steel reinforced 1,810 222
Soft-wood lumber (large dimensions, green)* 1,971 101
Soft-wood lumber (small dimensions, green)* 2,226 132
Portland cement, containing 6473% of slag 2,350 279
Portland cement, containing 2535% of 3,450 585
fly ashes
Local granite 5,900 317
Engineering brick 8,200 850
Tile 9,000 430
Soft-wood lumber* (small dimensions, 9,193 174
kiln dried)
Steel, bar and rod 19,700 1,720
Polypropylene, injection molding 115,100 3,900
*Note: System boundary is cradle to average US site.
LCA of BM includes an analysis of the following aspects: resource base; embodied pollution;
impact during use; final disposal. Certain sources of raw materials are becoming exhausted; therefore,
the use of remaining stocks should be treated with great caution. Most rare materials used in
construction can be substituted by others, more abundant or renewable. Environment (natural habitat,
flora, fauna and landscape), human health and well-being can be severely damaged by the extraction or
harvesting of raw materials and by the production and distribution of BM that make up the whole
supply chain of the construction industry. There may also be negative effects for the local communities
associated with noise, dust, local transport problems or general disruption. Some extraction processes
are inherently rational in terms of resources used, whereas others are extremely inefficient, leading to a
significant amount of waste. Attention to this aspect has led to a new trend in manufacturing BM from
the waste products of various origins [19]. For instance, utilization of waste products had been
successfully implemented in countries like Holland and Japan, where construction industry
practically lack raw materials [20].
Pollution, caused by the processes taking place during the production of BM, has a huge negative
environmental impact as well. Highly processed components must be avoided in the future in favor of
the less processed ones, which can serve the same purpose. Reduction of the pollution caused by the
combustion of fossil fuels and cutting down the costs of energy required for manufacturing of BM are
also the main challenges for the producers of highly energy intensive products, like concrete, bricks,
plastics and metals. For example, several British brick manufacturers partially use bio-gas as a fuel for
the firing [19]. A wide range of traditional building products (wood treatments, foams, chipboards,
vinyl flooring, paints and varnishes) contain compounds, which adversely affect the health of
occupants of a building. Although some harmful substances are regulated by health and safety policies
such as Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), in reality great level of health risks
comes from the unknown cocktail effect of the many chemicals that are present in the buildings.
Further detailed research is required to address these concerns and produce information on health risks
associated with possible substances combinations [19]. The use of BM sourced locally can help lessen
the environmental burdens. This would considerably cut transportation costs and provide support of
the local economies. For instance, a good choice of material suitable for sustainable construction can
be timber, available from a local source, used in untreated form and designed for long life. It is
preferable to employ the vernacular traditions and skills, often connected with a particular regional
material that is acceptable to local planning authorities. Also, it is quite important to take into account
an inherent durability and quality of BM and increase them as much as possible. In addition, materials
and components should have a good recycling potential [19].
Glass et al. mentioned that the construction industry is quite conservative, and currently it is
underperforming in addressing such issues as sustainability, low replacement rates, lack of innovation,
inadequate level of skills and external factors (oil depletion, water pollution and globalization) [21].
According to recent European building regulations on energy efficiency and to the Code
for Sustainable Homes, new standards are established in order to produce carbon neutral
buildings [21,22]. In 2003 European Commission released the integrated product policy, aiming to
identify within the construction sector products with the best environmental performance [23]. This
policy takes into consideration the whole life-cycle of the product. There are three main phases in this
approach: environmental impact of products; environmental improvement of products; policy
implications. Eco-design and the environmental product declarations (EPD) are employed to
implement the integrated product policy. Eco-design is a set of techniques that can design a product
with low negative environmental impacts during its complete life-cycle. EPD is a communication tool
providing customers and international markets with relevant and verified information on the
environmental performance of the products [24]. EPD is based on LCA and contain data associated
with the acquisition of raw materials, chemical nature of BM, possible air-land, and water-pollutions
and waste generation as well [2].
Researchers use different criteria to classify BM. For instance, Asif et al. categorize construction
materials into six groups: concrete, metals, wood, stone, plastics and ceramics [9]. Classification
conducted by Sun et al., on the other hand, is based on materials environmental impact drivers [18].
By means of this method, 16 groups were identified for the families of materials such as glass and
ceramics, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, paper, polymers and woods. This classification can be
suitable at the early stages of product design and development. Calkins used sustainability criterion
and defined the following groups of sustainable BM [15]:
materials that reduce the use of resources;
materials that minimize environmental impacts;
materials that pose no or low human health risks;
materials that assist with sustainable site design strategies;

materials from companies with sustainable social, environmental and corporate policies.
The following sections of this review focus on the recent advances in the field of the most common
(cement/concrete; wood; brick; stone; ceramics; glass; plastics) and alternative (bamboo; cob; adobe)
BM that have non-metallic nature.
3. Concrete and Cement
Concrete as a construction material is widely used for building structural frames, ground-works,
floors, roofs, and prefabricated elements [25]. Annually more than 10 billion tons of concrete are
produced in the world [26]. Concrete is a durable material with excellent mechanical properties. It is
adaptable to different climates, relatively fire resistant, widely available and affordable. Concrete
can be molded almost into any shape and can be designed to satisfy almost any performance
requirements [26]. It can be reinforced with either steel or fibers. Moreover, recycled materials can be
incorporated into the concrete mix, thus reducing consumption of raw materials and disposal of waste
products. The use of admixturesmaterials added to concretebecomes very popular as the final
composite can have better durability and gains some specific unique properties [15]. Typical
composition of concrete is shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Typical constituents of concrete (taken from [15]).
Constituent Average Content, wt.%

Portland cement 9.3
Fly ash 1.7
Fine aggregate 26
Coarse aggregate 41
Water 16
Air 6
In spite of the advantages mentioned above, concrete unfortunately has an enormous negative
impact on the environment. It is estimated that cement and concrete industry generates up to 7% of
global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, and it is set to increase dramatically in the coming decades as the
Earths population grows [15]. Apart from the emissions related to the combustion of fossil fuels, there
is a release of CO2 associated with unavoidable de-carbonation of limestone (raw material) [28].
Concrete manufacturing is responsible for generating not only carbon dioxide but also other air
pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides [(NO)x], hydrogen chloride
(HCl), volatile hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Production of concrete causes depletion of
non-renewable mineral and water resources required in extremely large quantities. World concrete
industry uses 10 billion (in short scale billion) tons of rock and sand, and 1 billion ton of water
annually. Although Portland cement composes about 10% of concrete mix (see Table 2), its production
accounts for 92% of the total energy demand [15]. Finally, demolition and disposal of concrete
structures pose another significant environmental threat [26]. Concrete is estimated to account for up
to 70% by weight of construction and demolition waste. At the present moment, concrete industry
must take urgent actions in order to reduce the emissions of CO2 and other air pollutants; to reduce the
use of energy; to cut down the use of natural resources (including water); and to minimize the amount
of waste generated. The environmental impacts of concrete/cement materials are largely discussed in
detail elsewhere [15,25,26,28-30].
The Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) is a serious international effort set by ten leading cement
companies to reduce the environmental and human health damage caused by cement manufacturing.
The group of eighteen cement producers, accounting for 40% of global cement production, is
organized under the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The purpose of this
initiative is to implement the main principles of SD and to identify actions needed to achieve SD in
cement industry. CSI prepares guidelines and protocols for addressing such issues as energy and CO2
management, fuel and material use, employee health and safety, reduction of emissions, impacts on
land and local communities, and communication [15,28].
Main Strategies Dealing with Challenges of Modern Cement and Concrete Industries
Improvement of durability, mechanical properties and service life of concrete
One of the effective ways to deal with negative environmental impact of concrete is to reduce the
total volume of this material needed for a certain construction process by enhancing its performance. It
is important to consider the overall quality of BM, which strongly depends on durability and
associated mechanical properties and the life time. Habert and Roussel estimated that in France, the
reduction of the concrete volume required for a particular building, by increasing the mechanical
strength of the concrete, could lead to the reduction of CO2 emission by approximately 30% [27]. In a
report [31] it is claimed that many exposed exterior concrete structures are only in place for half of the
designated service time. Premature failure can result in a great amount of resources needed for
structures to be fixed, replaced or demolished before the end of their original life time, and therefore
causing an extra negative impact. Designing of smaller and thinner concrete sections can also reduce
the total amount of materials and energy resources required to produce concrete. However, this implies
that the material should have a significant level of strength. There are several solutions for
this problem.
The first is the development and application of high performance concrete (HPC). HPC is a type of
concrete that has a low water to cement or water to binder ratio, properties of which are improved by
the use of super-plasticizers. HPC has a higher level of compressive strength (4050 MPa) compared
to a traditional concrete (1525 MPa) [30]. It is more economical as the designed structures can be
smaller or thinner. It also has a low porosity that makes HPC more resistant to low temperatures and
chemical exposure [15].
Secondly, by using self-compacting concrete (SCC), which is defined as concrete, which without
any mechanical action is able to fill a given form without separation [28]. In 2004 only 1% of
European ready-mix construction was SCC. SCC has following economic, social and environmental
advantages compared to a traditional concrete:
less labor involved, thus reducing costs, increasing productivity and allowing to build faster;
the absence of large voids and inhomogeneities inside SCC results in its improved mechanical
characteristics, better performance and longer service life;
SCC casting requires no additional electrical energy for vibration (as this stage is eliminated);
low level of noise and the absence of problems normally associated with vibration at the plants
and construction sites;
SCC also has new aesthetic potentials and more complicated geometries can be designed.
SCC technology provides an opportunity to use fine fillers of ground limestone or by-products such
as fly-ash, quarry dust etc. Ye et al. have investigated the behavior of self-compacting cement paste at
elevated temperatures [32]. It was found that a dramatic loss of mass was observed in the samples of
self-compacting cement paste with addition of limestone filler when temperature is higher than 700 oC.
This implies that SCC made by this type of paste will probably have a bigger damage once exposed to
the fire. This can be efficiently avoided when polypropylene fibers (ca. 0.5 kg/m3) are added to
the paste.
In general, the use of polymers in manufacturing more sustainable concrete is continuously growing.
They can be used for the following applications: concrete crack injections; repair of mortars for
concrete and stone; consolidation of masonry; admixtures; and pure polymer concrete building
components. Concrete modified with polymers is a composite material consisting of two phases: the
aggregate, which is discontinuously dispersed through the material, and the binder, which itself
consists of cementitious and polymer phase [33]. The main issues here are physical and chemical
incompatibility of polymers and concrete, mechanical malfunctioning and low durability of the
finished composite. Depending on the volume fraction of the polymer, the material shifts from
polymer cement concrete to polymer concrete. Polymer impregnated concrete is a special composite,
in which polymers are combined with concrete. In this case, low-viscosity monomers are injected into
the pores of the hardened concrete and polymerized later. The resultant polymers form a second matrix
if the pores are interconnected throughout the material [33].
Thirdly, by applying adequate reinforcing techniques that will enhance the durability of concrete
structures. There are two ways of concrete reinforcement: steel reinforcing and fiber reinforcing. The
idea of reinforcement concludes in the prevention of cracks developing inside the concrete before or
after it happened, and as a result will lead to an improved impermeability, strength, weather and
impact-resistance of the material [15]. Application of the first method is less preferable as durability of
the finished product can be affected by corrosion, and the production of steel has some serious
environmental implications (high energy use, emission of hazardous air pollutants, etc.). The second
method involves inclusion either synthetic (nylon, glass or polypropylene) or natural fibers (vegetable,
hemp [34], flax [35], coir, eucalyptus pulp, residual sisal [36]) in to the concrete mix. In spite of the
main drawbacks like low durability performance of concrete and incompatibility issues, the
consumption of BM made of biological fiber reinforced cement is increasing rapidly, especially in the
developing countries having access to significant sources of cellulose fibers [35]. Two articles [36,37]
have appeared in the literature that represent overviews of Australian and Brazilian experiences,
respectively, in natural fiber reinforced cement composites. The authors state that it is possible to
develop a material with properties suitable for building purposes with adequate mix design and taking
into account the mechanical properties of fibers [36]. The study conducted by American researchers on
self-healing (bleeding) concrete has shown that the repair of cracks and filling the voids occurs
immediately through the internal release of chemical agents from the fibers or beads embedded into
concrete matrix [38].
Fourthly, it is the development of new ultra-high performance cement composites, which have
unique structural and aesthetic potential. These are compact reinforced composite (CRC) and Ductal.
CRC is a composite of special fiber reinforced concrete with extremely high compressive
strength (150400 MPa) and reinforcing bars arranged in a particular manner [28,39]. CRC has been
used in structural application, mainly for the production of precast elements (balconies and staircases).
Ductal had been developed by three French companies, namely Lafarge, Bouygues and Rhodia [28].
It possesses improved rheological properties and a unique combination of attributes detailed in [40]. In
comparison to a traditional concrete, Ductals compressive strength is 68 times higher, the flexural
strength is 10 times higher, the durability is from 10 to 100 times better. Moreover, Ductal can
deform under excessive loads without rupture and has excellent surface aspects. From an
environmental point of view, Ductal technology requires only 65% of raw materials, 51% of the
primary energy and 47% of the overall CO2 emissions of the traditional concrete [28].
Finally, the use of nanomaterials might be very powerful in order to achieve sustainability
objectives. Nanoscience of cements is a relatively new discipline with a huge potential to manipulate
the nanostructure of calcium silicate hydrate [41]. Because the full environmental and human impacts
of nanoparticles are unknown, they might pose some risks by inhalation or skin absorption during their
manufacture, use and disposal [15]. Concrete reinforcement with nanofibers, including carbon
nanotubes, has a potential to improve strength of concrete significantly, possibly eliminating the need
of the reinforcement with steel. Moreover, nanocoatings containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) can make
self-cleaning buildings in the future, reducing the amount of harmful cleansers used currently.
Molecules of TiO2 have photo-catalytic properties [42]. They release an electric charge when
absorbing sunlight that forms reactive radicals, which oxidize the nearby organic (and some inorganic)
substances when they exposed to ultraviolet and/or sun rays [15]. The acidic products obtained in this
process are washed away by rain or neutralized by alkaline calcium carbonate contained in the
concrete. It is reported that nanoparticles of TiO2 can even reduce air pollution by removing nitrogen
oxides [43]. Tests showed that road surfaces with incorporated nano-TiO2 reduce concentrations of
nitrogen oxides by up to 60%. The use of nanoparticles of Portland cement, silica (SiO2), titanium
dioxide (TiO2), and iron oxide (Fe2O3) can significantly improve compressive and flexural strength of
concrete [15]. In addition, nanosensors can be integrated into concrete with the aim to collect
performance data such as stress, corrosion of steel, pH levels, moisture, temperature, density
shrinkage, etc. [44].
Reduction of the cement content in the concrete mix by increasing the application of supplementary
cementitious materials (SCM)
Reduction of cement use in a concrete mix is most easily achieved through the substitution of
Portland cement with other pozzolanic or hydraulic materials [15]. Depending on physical
characteristics (grading curve or size), chemical composition and properties of SCM, they can perform
either a function of ordinary filler (i.e., they would fill the porosity of the material and thus increase
elasticity modulus and improve its mechanical strength) or work as a binding agent (i.e., they would
react with water or with clinker hydration products and form stable hydrates). The most common SCM
include fly ash (by-product from coal fired power plants), ground granulated blast furnace
slag (GGBFS: by-product of steel industry), and silica fume (by-product of semi-conductor
industry) [15,26,28,45,46]. Following the increasing popularity of SCM, Meyer in a recent review
discusses properties, optimum levels of cement replacement, benefits and disadvantages in the
application of each type of substituents [26]. Other SCM that can be used for cement replacement
belong to a family of natural pozzolans such as calcined clay, calcined shale and metakaolin [15].
The utilization of industrial waste products as SCM definitely has a positive environmental impact
because otherwise they would be land-filled. Moreover, they improve durability and mechanical
properties of concrete, reduce thermal stress and cracking. However, in some cases longer set and
curing times are required. Damtoft et al. stated that in reality the reduction of CO2 emission is limited
when SCM used for the Portland cement production. This is primarily due to the low content of
calcium oxide (CaO) in the majority of SCM (except GGBFS). In practice, level of limestone
replacement by GGBFS constitutes only 10%. When reductions in fuel consumption are taken into
consideration as well, the total reductions of CO2 emission theoretically do not exceed more than 25%.
Also, the availability of GGBFS in the near future is most likely to decrease as existing steel plants are
due to be replaced by more efficient electric arc furnaces. Fly ashes (class C) enriched with CaO can
also be used to replace limestone in clinker production; however, the availability of this product is
limited as well. Therefore, 100% utilization of current world sources of blast furnace slag and class C
fly ashes would result in CO2 emission reductions only by 10% [28]. Habert and Roussel evaluated that
in France CO2 emissions can be cut by 15% by increasing level of clinker substitution on mineral
additives, both industrial by-products and natural pozzolans [27]. The authors also stressed that this
could be achieved in a medium term perspective, i.e., by 2020. However, in the long time perspective,
i.e., by 2050, the authors recommend considering other options, e.g., developing new types of clinker
such as sulfoaluminate or belite activated sulfoaluminate clinker that has low CO2 emission.
Increase in the use of recycled materials in place of natural non-renewable resources
Since aggregate constitutes the largest volume fraction of the concrete mix, the substitution of
natural aggregates with recycled products can result in reducing the consumption of raw materials in
manufacturing process, in reducing the exploitation of quarries, and can thus result in the minimization
of the land areas for disposal. The products that can replace fine and coarse aggregates are: recycled
concrete aggregate (RCA); crushed blast furnace slag; sand; brick; glass; granulated plastics; waste
fiberglass; mineralized wood shavings; etc. This strategy gains a great importance and has been
discussed by many authors [26,47-52]. For instance, Sani et al. studied leaching and mechanical
behavior of concrete containing RCA [47]. It was indicated that the use of recycled aggregate as
a 100% replacement of natural aggregate causes an increase in total porosity of concrete, although the
leaching rate of sodium, potassium and calcium ions becomes lower as it is directly related to the
percentage of macro/meso-pores. Mechanical strength in the presence of RCA drops by
approximately 40% compared to a traditional concrete. However, this loss can be contained by adding
fly ash. In spite of these negative effects, the authors still suggest that application of RCA would be
acceptable as more environmentally sustainable. Compressive strength of RCA can be increased to
adequate values of traditional concrete (3035 MPa) by adding to the mixture SCM (fly ash or silica
fume) with the aid of an acrylic-based super-plasticizer and at the same time by decreasing the
water/cement ratio [53]. RCA also causes a reduction of elasticity modulus (by 35%), an increase in
creep and shrinkage deformations, as well as a higher permeability of concrete, which decreases its
durability [26]. A variety of contaminants (soil, plaster, wood, gypsum, asphalt, and rubber) found in
recycled concrete can also be an important issue as their presence degrades the durability and strength.
Another limitation of using RCA is a larger water consumption compared to an ordinary concrete.
Nevertheless, RCA is quite acceptable for many applications. For instance, the successful case is the
renewal of Denvers Stapleton Airport in the US, where 6.5 million tons of concrete had been recycled
or reused [54].
Post-consumer glass bottles and post-industrial float glass cullet are offered as suitable aggregates
for concrete [26,28,55-58]. Recycled glass has zero water absorption, high hardness, good abrasion
resistance, excellent durability and chemical resistance. All these characteristics can improve the
overall performance of concrete and impart color and aesthetic properties to it. The only technical
problem here is an alkali silica reaction that can occur with coarse glass aggregate (less with fine
aggregate). This reaction leads to the formation of a gel, which swells in the presence of water, causing
cracks and damage in concrete [15]. Bignozzi et al. investigated a new application of matt waste,
derived from the purification of cullet by separated collection, as a filler and as a partial Portland
cement replacement (up to 50%) for newly blended cement [55]. When it is used as a filler, the
resulting composite material showed higher compressive strength (up to 23%) and lower water
absorption than self-compacting concrete. These significant improvements of mechanical properties
are due to the good pozzolanic activity of the glass. Matt waste of amounts up to 25% was shown also
to be very effective in new cement formulations. Kralj proposed a method of recycling of lightweight
concrete with aggregate containing expanded glass [56]. Although the values of compressive strength,
density and thermal conductivity for a new product are similar to the ones for lightweight concrete
containing only aggregate of expanded glass, this technology is necessary for a production of cheaper
and more environmentally friendly material. Guerra et al. studied an effect of recycled porcelain
materials on the mechanical properties of concrete [59]. The substitution of natural aggregate with
ceramic debris from sanitary ware waste does not improve significantly the mechanical properties of
the new material compared to an ordinary concrete. However, it provides a good opportunity for the
recycling of construction industry residues.
There are a number of publications related to the replacement of natural aggregate with the wastes
from wood processing activity [60-65]. The research conducted by Becchio et al. focuses on the
possibility of the mineralized wood concrete production by incorporating wooden waste, which was
pre-treated with silica fume [65]. The inclusion of wood aggregate into concrete leads to a decrease of
material density and final material becomes lighter. It also improves thermal insulation, although
mechanical properties of the composite drop.
There are reports that describe preparation of rubberized concrete composites by replacing fine (up
to 10%) and coarse (up to 20%) natural aggregate with waste tire rubber [66,67]. The most common
ways of using recycled tires in cement concrete composite are shredding, chipping or grounding the
rubber to the particles with sizes ranging from 450 mm to 75 m [26]. The main drawbacks of this
method are a significant decrease of the compressive and tensile strength as well as a reduction of
stiffness of the composite product with the increasing amount of rubber in the mix. This can also lead
to the earlier developing of cracks and the overall failure of concrete matrix. In order to improve
mechanical behavior of concrete, Bignozzi and Sandrolini suggested using a self-compacting
technology that helps binding rubber phase with cement matrix [66]. On the other hand, owing to the
presence of rubber particles, the concrete can gain extra ductility and energy absorption [26]. Other
potential advantages of rubberized concrete are good sound absorption capacity as well as excellent
thermal properties. However, the incompatible Youngs moduli of rubber and concrete often lead to
inadequate mechanical properties of materials.
Recycled waste plastic is not generally available widely [15]. A major obstacle is the poor adhesion
of plastic particles with cement matrix, which can also considerably reduce mechanical performance of
concrete [26]. This problem can be solved by combining 1015% of waste plastics with other materials
like fly ash, thus leading to the production of lightweight structures and blocks that increase the
deformation characteristics of concrete without failure [15].
4. Wood-Based Building Materials
Wood is one of the most common and oldest forms of BM. It is easy to work with, structurally
strong construction material suitable for numerous applications, e.g., framing, flooring, roofing and
lining. There are different varieties and sources of timber. Sun et al. classified 82 types of wood into
four groups on the basis of magnitude of their environmental impacts (eco-indicators) [18].
Up until recently such negative factors as deforestation, destruction of natural habitats, acidic rains,
high rate of wood consumption, extensive use of toxic preservatives have resulted in wood being
viewed as un-sustainable material. A representative consumer survey conducted in Germany has aimed
to explore the image of timber as a construction material in general and timber framed houses in
particular [68]. The study found that although timber has a positive association with such values as
well-being, aesthetics and eco-friendliness, prejudice regarding high combustibility, low durability and
extensive maintenance still persists in the minds of consumers. These barriers constitute a real
challenge that producers of timber houses would have to face by optimizing processes and products.
An increased use of wood in construction is a rather controversial topic in recent literature. On one
hand, forests purify the air and sequester carbon, even after being harvested and processed into lumber
products. Furthermore, trees need mainly solar energy to grow and manufacture of wooden materials
requires fewer amounts of fossil fuels, and emits less GHG over their life-cycle than other common
BM. On the other hand, some wood harvesting practices and techniques have caused the global
problems such as clearing large expanses of forests; loss of biological diversity; water and soil
pollution due to the liberal use of fertilizers and pesticides; generation of waste that was
land-filled [15]. In addition, some wood finishes can release volatile organic compounds, negatively
affecting air quality and human health in general. Wood can be considered as a renewable material,
and have a huge potential to be sustainable in the future, given the strategy of sustainable forest
management and harvesting practices monitored by forest certification programs are in place.
Forests, as a source of wood, play a vital role in the Earths carbon cycle. Photosynthesis, which
occurs in forests, provides an efficient mechanism for the removal of carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and the release of oxygen back to it. This process is the most productive in the new forests
where rapid tree grow takes place [15]. Forests, wood and wood products store carbon until its
eventual release through burning, bacterial or fungal decay, or consumption by insects [69]. If trees are
replanted, carbon sinks would be added to the carbon cycle [70]. In contrast, deforestation leads to an
imbalance of carbon flows by the removal of trees that can sequester carbon [15]. It is estimated that
that 17.3% of carbon dioxide emissions, caused by humans, are related to deforestation, biomass decay,
etc. [4]. A sustainable balance can be achieved if the annual harvest level is equal to, or below, the
annual forest growth increment [4,71], and when intensive forest management regime is
employed [72,73]. Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (CORRIM) found that
growing wood on the shorter rotations as opposed to longer intervals between harvesting can sequester
more total carbon over time [70]. An accumulation of carbon in wood products, by an increase of their
consumption or by using long-lived products, can positively benefit the environment, but only in the
short or medium term [74]. Some authors believe that, in the long term, a greater use of wood in
buildings at the expense of energy-intensive BM and substitution effect of avoiding fossil fuel
emissions are more important than carbon stored in wood [69].
It is also important to consider how wood is treated at the end of its life cycle [15]. In the EU,
land-filling both combustible and organic waste has been banned [75]. Land-filling is still a common
practice in North America and in the developing countries. Residues, resulting from the harvesting of
forests and the manufacture of wood products, should ideally be completely utilized to replace fossil
fuels [71]. Reclaiming and reusing of wood are also widely encouraged. While untreated wood can be
recycled into other products (such as mulch or compost), the treated wood would pose a more
significant problem for disposal as it may contain harmful compounds [15]. Some amount of carbon
from land-filled wood will return to the soil, but another fraction may decompose into methane, which
has a much higher global warming potential than CO2. Although part of the methane gas can be
recovered and used as bio-fuel, the rest of it will be emitted to the atmosphere [74].
The use of timber in construction gains more and more support, especially in the regions with vast
forest resources, because it can reduce both the energy demands of the buildings and the concentration
of GHG in the atmosphere. Generally, this can be achieved by making use of wood instead of either
fossil fuels (fuel or direct substitution) or non-wood materials, such as steel, aluminum and concrete
(material or indirect substitution). There is a large potential to increase wood substitution in Europe.
Gustavsson et al. point at a rather low level of timber use in Western and Central Europe, excluding
Scandinavia [76].
In general, there are a large number of recent publications regarding the substitution between timber
products and other BM [8,69-74,76-85]. For instance, in the case study by Borjesson and Gustavsson
on the multi-storey building in the south of Sweden, the primary energy use and the emissions of CO2
and methane have been calculated and compared for two design options (either wooden or concrete
frame) from life-cycle and forest land-use perspectives [77]. They evaluated that the primary energy
input was about 6080% higher when concrete frames were used. The authors suggested that the net
GHG balance is strongly affected by the method, in which wood is being utilized after the demolition
of the building. The net GHG emissions estimated to be clearly positive if all of the demolition wood
is land-filled and slightly positive if all wood from this building is used instead of fossil fuel. GHG
emissions can be improved and even may be negative if demolition wood is re-used. The comparison
of timber and concrete design options of the same building was performed by Lenzen and Treloar by
employing an Australian environmentally extended input-output framework in a tiered hybrid LCA,
and in structural path analysis instead of process analysis [78]. Although the authors of this study
reported that values of the energy use are twice as large as in similar study conducted by Borjesson
and Gustavsson, the fundamental result, that the concrete-framed building causes higher level of
emissions and uses more energy, has been confirmed.
Cole has provided a detailed examination of the energy and GHG emissions associated with on-site
construction of a selection of alternative wood, steel and concrete structural assemblies [85].
Significant differences between the amount of energy and GHG emissions were observed for the
construction with these materials, indicating that the use of concrete typically involves an order of
magnitude higher quantities.
A great majority of scientists are convinced that using wood products in construction can result in
lower fossil energy demands and significant cuts of GHG emissions compared to non-renewable
alternatives such as steel and concrete [74]. For instance, Buchanan et al. found that a 17% increase in
wood content of buildings in New Zealand could lead to a 20% decrease in fossil fuel consumption
and to a 20% reduction of atmospheric carbon emissions from the manufacture of all BM [69]. This
would account for a reduction of about 1.5% of New Zealands total emissions. The reduction in
emissions is mainly associated with using wood instead of brick and aluminum, and to a lesser extent
steel and concrete.
A study conducted by Upton et al. focused on the energy requirements and GHG emissions
associated with the use of wood-based BM in residential construction in the US [81]. The authors
compared houses with similar heating and cooling regimes but using wood-based and non-wood-based
construction materials. The differences were estimated over a period of 100 years. The results indicate
that houses built with wood-based BM require 1015% less total energy for non-heating/cooling
purposes and their net GHG emissions are 2050% lower than thermally equivalent houses employing
steel-or concrete-based BM.
Salazar and Meil discussed the prospects for carbon-neutral housing by greater wood use on the
example of single-family residence [83]. This article compared energy and carbon balance of two
residential houses: a typical wood-framed home using more traditional materials (brick cladding, vinyl
windows, asphalt shingles, and fiberglass insulation) and a wood-intensive house with maximized
timber use throughout (cedar shingles, wood windows, and cellulose insulation). The wood-intensive
homes life-cycle consumed only 45% of the fossil fuels used in the typical house. Including land-fill
methane emissions, the wood-intensive house produced 20 tons of CO2 emission as opposed to 72 tons
for typical house. It was estimated that the house with higher wood content can be energy efficient and
carbon neutral for 3568 years in Ottawa region. The authors showed that wood waste can be
recovered and used to generate enough energy to completely offset the manufacturing emissions and
even partially offsetting the heating or cooling energy demands for this house.
Calkins in a recent book recommended the following strategies for design and specification of
sustainable timber [15]:
use wood resources efficiently, which means: using lowest quality wood for applications; build
smaller and durable structures; simplicity in design details; minimal preservative treatments;
reduce wood waste; build for disassembly; use engineered wood products;
use certified wood;
use reclaimed wood;
preferential use of natural or low-toxic wood finishes.
The use of residues from agricultural activities can improve conservation of timber stock.
Van Dam et al. developed an efficient technology to produce boards with high strength and density by
processing whole coconut husk without the addition of synthetic binders [86]. The board had excellent
mechanical properties, which are similar or even better than commercial wood-based panels. The
recycling of wood is encouraged as it effectively addresses the problems of waste management and
lack of natural resources, especially in countries like Japan with limited land areas suitable for waste
disposal. Obata et al. discussed an application of recycled medium density fiberboard to produce a
base material for floor heating systems [87].
The industry of wood preservatives and finishes currently focuses on the manufacture of products
with improved environmental performance [88]. The comprehensive comparison of various wood
preservatives is represented by Calkins [15]. A recent development of micro manufacturing heat
treatment with the aid of sodium silicate is at the preliminary stage of testing, but it has a great
potential in wood preservation. The use of nanomaterials as wood coatings, preservatives, adhesives,
sealants and impregnators has also very promising future [43]. For instance, Calkins mentioned
the development of a preservative containing organic insecticide and fungicide embedded
in 100 nanometers plastic beads [15]. The suspension of these beads in water had been passed through
the wood under pressure. Owing to their nanosize, they were able to disperse completely within the
wood fibers. As soon as a finished wood product is well protected from the effect of fungus and insects,
it is suitable for application in the exterior structures. Unfortunately, the availability of some new
products is limited at the moment.
5. Brick, Stone and Ceramics
Brick is one of the major BM in modern construction industry. It has a very good durability and
long service life. Bricks are mainly used for the outer and inner walls construction. Primarily bricks
are made of non-toxic natural materials like clay and shale. Furthermore, brick manufacturing has a
good potential for utilization of the solid wastes, which can be incorporated into the brick and
neutralized by firing at high temperatures. The main environmental concerns all over the world for the
brick production process are high energy usage and GHG emissions. For instance, LCA conducted by
researchers from Greece quantified environmental performance of brick production in that
country [89]. It was shown that most of the emissions are directly associated with the burning of fossil
fuels. Among other environmental indicators acidification had a highest value (56%), which is
explained by the combustion of low-grade fuel with high sulfur content, producing large amounts of
SO2 and (NO)x.
All these negative factors encourage researchers to develop new type of masonry materials with
improved environmental profile [15,89-91]. One of them is unfired clay bricks [91]. The usage of
unfired bricks, in place of conventional fired ones, can significantly reduce the energy use and also cut
down CO2 emissions. Unfired clay soil (in the form of sun-baked bricks, mortars or plaster) is
classified as a traditional BM that was very popular in the past, especially in rural areas. The main
disadvantage of using these products is susceptibility to water damage, which can be avoided by
stabilizing the clay soil with the addition of small quantity of lime [92]. Although the durability of
lime-stabilized soil remains quite low and further improvement is required [93]. The results of several
studies [91,94,95] showed that increase in durability is occurred when GGBFS is added to
lime-stabilized systems. Oti et al. described a new technology of production of unfired clay bricks
containing blended binders: lime and GGBFS [91]. The use of only 1.5% of lime in the formulations
makes possible to obtain clay masonry units with engineering standards acceptable for wall
construction. The price of the final products was relatively low. Furthermore, unfired clay bricks
demonstrated excellent environmental performance; their total energy input was estimated
of 657 MJ/ton as opposed to 4,187 MJ/ton for the common fired bricks, while an equivalent output of
CO2 emission was 41 kg CO2/ton compared to 202 kg CO2/ton for traditional bricks in mainstream
construction. There are also reports in the literature regarding smart brick or masonry [96,97]. This
approach consists in incorporating sensors that monitor environmental parameters such as force, stress,
temperature, tilt and moisture.
Stone can be considered as a low impact BM, if quarried locally, minimally processed and used
appropriately. There is a tendency of rehabilitating the use of dry stone for modern sustainable
construction [98]. The environmental burdens and potential applications of natural stone and aggregate
are extensively discussed by Calkins [15].
According to a LCA of BM conducted by Asif et al., ceramic tiles are quite energy-intensive
(32,240 MJ) that accounts for 15% of the total embodied energy in the house [9]. Nicoletti et al.
presented a comparative LCA carried out for marble and ceramics used as flooring materials [99]. The
analysis indicated that marble tiles have better environmental performance compared to ceramic ones.
In case of ceramics, due to the composition of raw materials used for the glaze production, the
emission of arsenic and lead containing compounds took place.
6. Glass and Plastics
Windows are very important in sustainable construction of residential and commercial buildings.
They are responsible for heat transfer, provision of daylight, ventilation, weather protection and
acoustic insulation. Due to the high heat conductivity of the glass, an unwanted heat gain or loss takes
place between building and surroundings. There are several ways to improve energy conservation and
windows sustainability: use of low-emissivity (low-e) coatings; replacement of air with inert gases;
adjustment of the gap between glass panes in double or triple glazing. Low-e coatings improve thermal
characteristics of the windows by blocking the transmission of rays with wavelengths responsible for
solar heat gain [100]. Lampert reported that low-e glass accounts for almost 40% of the insulated glass
market in the US [101]. The optimization of the thickness of air layer in glazing cavity [102] or
substitution of the air with gases having low thermal conductivity (argon or krypton) [103] can
significantly reduce energy losses. A design, incorporating thermal breaks between inner and outer
surfaces of frames, can also considerably improve thermal insulation. In addition to this, the material
of a window frame, which normally has a higher U-value than the glazing component, must be
considered. Generally, wooden frames provide better thermal insulation compared to aluminum or
plastic ones. Moreover, the lower values of embodied energy make the timber frames more sustainable
than aluminum, uPVC, steel and aluminum-clad timber types of frames [103].
The emergence of chromogenic technology gave a start to a range of new products, often called
smart or switchable BM [101,104-108]. Electrically switchable chromogenic devices could either
change their color or transmittance due to the action of an electric field [105]. These devices can be
incorporated into glass or plastic materials. The main advantage of electrochromics (EC) is that the
low electric field is required only during the switching operations. Common types of electrically
powered technologies are EC, suspended particle devices (SPD), also known as an electrophoretic
media, and phase dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) [101,104,105]. Currently, the most popular
products are EC-windows, which change their color upon exposure to ultraviolet and thus can control
light, glare and heat entering a building [101,106]. Witter et al. reported about gasochromic windows
that could change their transmittance characteristics [108]. In this case, when glass containing a layer
of tungsten oxide (WO3) covered with a very thin layer of platinum, is exposed to diluted hydrogen gas,
it changes its color due to the reduction of WO3. This process can be reversed by introducing diluted
oxygen. The main advantages of these windows are high solar transmittance in the bleached state and
simple layer configuration that does not require transparent conducting electrodes. The prototype of
SPD windows in on and off positions is represented by Lampert [101,104]. An active layer of the
glazing consists of needle-shaped dipole particles (less than 1 mm long) suspended in a polymer. In
off position the particles are randomly arranged, absorbing the light. When an electric field is
applied, particles align and transmission is increased. The principle of the optical switching in all
systems based on liquid crystals (LC) is the reorientation or twist of their molecules, which causes the
change in materials transmittance. PDLC can be obtained either by embedding LC droplets into
polymer matrix or when LC fills the voids of polymer network. In off position PDLCs are
translucent due to the light scattering effect. When an electric field is applied (on position), the
reorientation of LC directors changes refractive index of LC domains and devices become transparent.
Composites that combine electro-optical and chromogenic response change their transmittance within
milliseconds [105].
Numerous products used in construction are made of plastic, e.g., pipes and drainage systems,
composite lumber, panels and fences, etc. Plastics impart such properties to the BM as water-and
decay-resistance, durability, flexibility, relatively light weight, integrated color and low maintenance.
They can incorporate a substantial amount of recycled products or can be recyclable themselves.
Nevertheless, plastics can have negative effects on the environment including high consumption of
fossil fuels required for their productions; release of toxic by-products like heavy metals and furans
during their manufacture, use and disposal; generation of large amounts of waste. The most common
plastics used in building construction are: high-density polyethylene; cross-linked polyethylene;
polypropylene (PP); polyvinyl chloride; polystyrene; polyacrylonitrile; etc. Characteristics, associated
risks and benefits of these materials are discussed by Calkins [15]. In recent literature there are
accounts of two main tools that improve environmental impacts of plastic BM: reuse/recycle and
development of new materials with better sustainable properties [15,109,110]. The interest in the field
of reinforced plastic composites is rapidly growing [110-113]. The finished composites, which could
contain a certain amount of different additives (aluminum, steel, glass, ceramics, nanoclays, natural or
synthetic fibers), have better mechanical properties and higher potential for further recycling. Xu et al.
presented a LCA study carried out in New Zealand for wood-fiber-reinforced PP composite and
compared it to a traditional PP [110]. Composite pre-forms, containing natural fibers in the amount
of 10%, 30% or 50% by weight, were produced by compression molding. The authors mentioned the
following advantages of bio-fibers over the synthetic glass ones: low costs, low density, renewability,
excellent chemical resistance, good strength and significant processing benefits. They also concluded
that environmental performance of the composite improves due to its lower density than original PP.
Some researchers express concerns about the structural integrity of composite materials
[38,111,114]. This indicates that the cracks can develop inside the material upon loading. Further
repair of these micro-cracks is difficult or sometimes even impossible. Therefore, the development of
self-repairing composites is very important. Unlike a conventional repair, self-repair would occur with
the aid of materials contained within damaged structure. The process begins as soon as damage has
happened without affecting an overall performance of the structure [11,111]. In this case, the
principles of biomimetics and biological self-healing are applied [11]. An ability to use this technique
in fiber reinforced polymer composites has been demonstrated by several authors [111,114-117]. For
instance, Pang and Bond have developed novel hollow fiber reinforced polymer composite [111]. The
release and infiltration of UV fluorescent dye occur from fractured hollow fibers into the damaged
parts of the composite. This method can also visually highlight the damage on its surface [111]. The
researchers from the University of Illinois (USA) have developed a material with an encapsulated
healing agent and a solid catalyst dispersed in the matrix of polymer. Once a crack is formed, these
microcapsules rupture and release healing agent into the damaged area. Its subsequent exposure to the
catalyst initiates polymerization resulting in the filling the crack. A good level of mechanical strength
recovery is observed. The negative effects of moisture swelling and destruction of the composite are
also significantly mitigated [116,117].
7. Alternative Building Materials
Due to the exhaustion of non-renewable resources in the near future, there will be a shift in
construction towards BM with low embodied energy and that are preferentially available locally [118].
Although it must be acknowledged that in some cases transportation costs can be compensated if
non-local materials with better overall performance can be found. Compared to the common BM
(concrete, steel, wood and plastics), these materials have a range of beneficial properties such as
low toxicity, durability, low level of GHG and other pollutants emissions, high recycling potential
and minimal processing requirements. Many of them are biodegradable and do not produce
hazardous by-products. Examples of these products include bio-based [15,19,119-124] and
earthen [15,19,125-128] BM.
Bio-based BM are generally originated from renewable organic constituents of plants and animals.
The resources for these products could be agricultural crops and residues, animal wastes, forest
materials and post-consumer biological waste [15]. The examples represented in recent literature
include bamboo, straw bales, fiber crops, agricultural residues and plant seed oils. Bamboo, as a
sustainable alternative to traditional BM, has attracted attention of many researchers [119-124].
Bamboo, which is a member of giant grasses, is an abundant material in tropical regions of Latin
America, Asia and Africa. Thanks to its excellent mechanical properties, light weight, flexibility, high
growing rate and relatively low costs, bamboo has many opportunities as sustainable BM, especially in
the areas where it occurs naturally [120,129]. The use of bamboo is growing rapidly, particularly in the
sector of house interior, for production of laminate flooring, panels, chipboards and fireboards [15].
van der Lugt et al. discussed the possibilities of using bamboo as a building material in Western
Europe [119]. In this study the suitably of bamboo culms for construction of supporting structures was
assessed from the environmental and economical points of view. It was shown that bamboo has a very
low environmental impact (20 times better) compared to other more conventional BM. The authors
also mentioned the problems associated with the application of bamboo, such as difficulties in joining
techniques due to its hollow round form. This issue can be solved by laminating the material. The
financial assessment of a bridge in the Amsterdam Woods showed that among other BM bamboo is the
least expensive, even with included costs for its transportation from Costa Rica.
De Flander and Rovers have presented quantitative analysis of a laminated bamboo-framed
house [121]. It was shown that bamboo has a great advantage in annual yield per forest area compared
to a traditional wood. It was demonstrated that one laminated bamboo-framed house can be build from
one hectare of bamboo forest. Calkins mentioned the other barriers reducing bamboo overall
performance, leading to its short service life: developing cracks for minimally processed culms;
slippery outer surface when its wet; susceptibility to the attack of insects, fungi and microbes;
deterioration of durability upon the exposure to adverse weather [15]. Obviously, some time and
efforts will be required to overcome these issues and make bamboo strong and competitive building
material that meets the standards of modern construction.
Materials for earthen construction such as hydrated lime, clay, cob, adobe (mud bricks), compressed
earth blocks and rammed earth have been known and used for many years all over the world. Currently,
there is a growing interest in these BM as sustainable alternatives to traditional concrete, brick and
wood. Many recent publications raise questions related to the soil characterization, manufacturing
process and materials testing [130-135]. Earthen BM normally contain soil with some percentage of
clay (less than 20%) and water.
Collet et al. demonstrated that pre-fabricated cob blocks can be used in modern construction [127].
It was shown that the thermal behavior of south facing 50 cm thick cob wall is about the same as the
one for concrete block wall with 79 cm of insulation. An additional 5 cm of insulation for the cob
wall makes it equal to the dense concrete block with the insulation layer of 15 cm. In another study,
Kouakou and Morel examined an effect of clay as a natural binder on the mechanical properties of
adobes [126]. Traditional adobe and pressed adobe blocks were studied. Once the adobes dried, they
were subjected to a compression testing. The results showed that the mechanical strength depends on
the manufacturing process and the content of water in the adobes. Pressed adobe blocks were more
homogeneous than traditional adobes and had a higher compressive strength with the gain of
approximately 50%.
Loss of strength when saturated with water, erosion due to the wind or driving rain, low
dimensional stability are the main problems that have to be eliminated in order to provide successful
future application of earthen BM. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the use of bamboo, straw bales,
cob, adobe, rammed earth is growing in popularity. Case studies and modern examples of buildings are
widely represented in publications [19,128].
8. Conclusions
Nowadays, principles of sustainability have become mandatory in order to tackle global warming
and the associated climate change. Governments of several countries have adequate policies in place
with a view to controlling and improving the current state of construction industry. The major actions
include minimization of energy consumption in the buildings, rational use of natural resources and
stricter control of the emissions. All these measures should be systematically applied during the
selection of materials suitable for sustainable buildings and construction activities. General issues on
the selection BM are sourcing, performance, maintenance and cost.
The present review has analyzed the recent innovations, techniques, tools and strategies in the
sector of non-metallic BM spanning over a decade. The main approaches could be summarized into
the following:
Use of renewable energy resources for extraction of raw materials, for manufacturing,
processing, finishing and transportation of BM
Use of materials originated from renewable sources
Reduce the consumption of disproportional amount of natural resources
Emphasis on BM available locally and affordable even for poor communities. Although, in
some cases, when non-local materials produced on a larger scale than non-local, the
transportation of them for long distances can be more beneficial.
Rehabilitation and application of some vernacular building skills and techniques
Elimination of energy, water or materials wastage by using manufacturing processes with
closed cycle
Increase the use of waste or recycled products as raw materials or additives to design composite
BM with improved environmental performance
Increase the potential for reuse or recycle of BM or structures
Increase durability, strength and total service life of traditional and alternative BM
Design and use composite BM, combining materials with different properties, to achieve
improved standards of performance
Design non-polluting BM required very low maintenance and repair.
With the aim to achieve sustainable BM in the near future, one of the main strategies would be to
improve the functionality and environmental performance of traditional materials through the use of
more sustainable technologies, for example, utilizing nanotechnology. Producers of sustainable BM
will also have to make them more affordable and harmless for human health and the environment.
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Sustainability 2010, 2, 400-427; doi:10.

Sustainable Non-Metallic Building Materials

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected];

Received: 7 December 2009 / Accepted: 18 January 2010 / Published: 27 January 2010

Keywords: sustainability; sustainable buildings; construction; building materials

2. Sustainability Aspects of Building Materials

environmental characteristics [7]. However, it is also important for sustainable development to

materials that assist with sustainable site design strategies;

3. Concrete and Cement

Table 2. Typical constituents of concrete (taken from [15]).

Constituent Average Content, wt.%

Improvement of durability, mechanical properties and service life of concrete

Increase in the use of recycled materials in place of natural non-renewable resources

4. Wood-Based Building Materials

5. Brick, Stone and Ceramics

6. Glass and Plastics

7. Alternative Building Materials

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