Low-carbon construction materials encompass a broad class of building products engineered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, and environmental impact across their life cycle. Approaches include alternative binders such as geopolymers and low-clinker cements, incorporation of recycled aggregates and industrial by-products, and development of bio-based and engineered living materials that can self-heal or sequester carbon. These materials are applied in concrete, masonry, pavements, insulation, and structural components, often integrating circular economy principles and digital design or AI tools for performance optimization.
Engineering
An international study with EPFL researchers suggests that large reductions in carbon emissions from cement and steel building materials may be achievable by 2050 using already-existing construction technologies.
May 4, 2026
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Engineering
Besides water, cement is used more than any other material on Earth. Its manufacture begins by combining limestone with ingredients such as shale, clay, or sand. This mixture is ground into a powder, heated to 1,400°C, cooled, ...
May 4, 2026
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Robotics
Robotically assembled building blocks could be a more environmentally friendly method for erecting large-scale structures than some existing construction techniques, according to a new study by MIT researchers published in ...
Apr 28, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
The stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz in the past few weeks has choked off roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply, triggering the worst global energy crisis since the 1970s. Beyond the immediate shock, the disruption ...
Apr 20, 2026
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Engineering
The current environmental crisis is not only linked to climate change, but also to inadequate waste management and the intensive consumption of natural resources. In 2023, approximately 2.3 billion metric tons of municipal ...
Apr 20, 2026
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Engineering
A new extruded foam made from polybutylene succinate (PBS), developed by the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE, offers industrial companies a direct path to sustainable material solutions—without ...
Apr 17, 2026
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Engineering
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have uncovered the secret behind the remarkable toughness of the marri nut, the hard seed of the marri tree native to Western Australia. The nut's shell is so strong that even natural predators ...
Apr 15, 2026
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Engineering
Cement production is responsible for around 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions, primarily due to the production of Portland cement. In response to this environmental challenge, geopolymers—materials obtained through the ...
Apr 14, 2026
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Engineering
Researchers have developed a volcanic rock formula that cuts carbon emissions by 67%, potentially offering an affordable alternative to increasingly scarce cement additives.
Apr 9, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
In an industrial park in Zhangjiagang, a small city on China's east coast, a large humming and hissing machine feeds on piles of used clothes and sorts them.
Apr 2, 2026
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