Sustainable Design: Advances in Eco-friendly Materials for Construction and Infrastructure

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrmeet.org.v10.i5.3

Dr. Daksha Borada

IILM University

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201306, India

d.borada@iilm.edu

Abstract
The construction industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions and resource depletion. In response, sustainable design practices have gained prominence, emphasizing the use of eco-friendly materials that reduce environmental impact while maintaining structural performance. This manuscript reviews advancements in green construction materials up to 2022, focusing on geopolymer concrete, recycled aggregate concrete, bamboo composites, and bio-based polymers. It presents a comparative statistical analysis of mechanical and thermal properties, alongside lifecycle carbon footprints, to evaluate their viability against conventional Portland cement concrete. Methodologically, materials were sourced from published studies, and key performance metrics were synthesized into a dataset subjected to one-way ANOVA. Results indicate statistically significant improvements in embodied carbon reduction (p < 0.01) and comparable compressive strengths (p > 0.05) for alternative materials. The discussion highlights manufacturing challenges, durability considerations, and cost–benefit trade‑offs. Conclusions underscore the readiness of geopolymer and recycled aggregates for large‑scale adoption, while bio‑polymers and bamboo composites require further research on long‑term behaviour. This work provides engineers and policymakers with evidence-based guidance for selecting sustainable materials in construction and infrastructure projects. The construction industry’s environmental footprint extends beyond carbon emissions, encompassing resource depletion, water usage, and waste generation. Geopolymer concretes—activated by alkali solutions—utilize industrial by‑products such as fly ash and slag, diverting waste streams and reducing reliance on virgin raw materials (Van Deventer et al., 2012). Recycled aggregate concretes reclaim demolition debris, mitigating landfill burden and conserving natural aggregates (Xiao et al., 2017). Bamboo composites harness a rapidly renewable resource with exceptional tensile properties, while bio‑based polymers derived from lignocellulosic feedstocks offer biodegradable alternatives for non‑structural components (Kumar et al., 2018). This expanded analysis synthesizes peer‑reviewed data up to 2022, quantifying mechanical, thermal, and lifecycle performance metrics across four material classes. A comprehensive dataset was subjected to one‑way ANOVA and Tukey’s post‑hoc tests, revealing no statistically significant strength compromises for geopolymer and recycled concretes relative to OPC, alongside embodied carbon reductions exceeding 70% for geopolymer and 60% for bamboo composites.

Keywords
sustainable design; eco‑friendly materials; geopolymer concrete; recycled aggregate; bamboo composites

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