Research Status and Emerging Trends in Green Building Materials Based on Bibliometric Network Analysis

Abstract

Green building materials refer to environmentally friendly low-consumption construction materials. Their widespread adoption is hindered by high costs, limited technological implementation, and the absence of standardized regulations. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 5381 publications from 2003 to 2024, sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS), applying Sustainability Transitions Theory (STT) to classify research into Niche Innovation (new materials like phase change materials), Regime Adaptation (policies and lifecycle assessments), and Landscape Pressures (climate goals and circular economy integration). The results show rapid growth in research, shifting from basic sustainability concepts to advanced materials, lifecycle analysis, and digital technologies. Key themes include energy conservation, mechanical performance, and environmental impact, with emerging trends like carbon reduction strategies, blockchain applications in circular economies, and the integration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in construction. Future research should focus on enhancing material durability, standardizing sustainability metrics, and developing cost-effective recycling strategies to promote wider adoption.

1. Introduction

Green building materials are a critical component in achieving sustainability within the construction industry, offering significant advantages in reducing environmental impacts, conserving resources, and lowering energy consumption [1,2,3]. As global attention to carbon neutrality and energy-saving goals intensifies, green building materials play an increasingly important role in driving technological innovation and facilitating industrial transformation in the construction sector [4]. These materials encompass renewable resources, low-carbon emissions, and high environmental performance, including recyclable materials, low-energy production materials, and innovative materials with self-healing properties [5]. They not only effectively reduce resource consumption during the construction process but also enhance environmental friendliness throughout the building’s lifecycle [6].

The core characteristics of green building materials lie in their low environmental footprint and high performance [7]. Key applications include green concrete, insulation materials, lightweight composites, and high-strength eco-friendly bricks, all of which demonstrate significant potential in energy efficiency, resource recycling, and pollution control within the construction industry [8,9]. Furthermore, the production of green building materials increasingly emphasizes circular economy principles, promoting efficient resource utilization and waste conversion [10,11]. However, the widespread adoption and application of green building materials face numerous challenges [12], such as the lack of unified material standards [13], high production costs [14,15,16,17], and limited market acceptance [18,19,20,21].

Current research on green building materials primarily focuses on three key areas: (1) optimizing material performance by developing high-strength, low-emission materials, exploring natural fiber composite applications, and advancing biomass energy solutions [22,23,24,25,26,27]; (2) assessing the environmental impacts of green building materials across their lifecycle, including resource consumption and emissions during production, usage, and disposal [28,29,30,31,32]; and (3) examining policy support and market incentives to enhance commercialization and promote widespread adoption of green building materials [33,34,35,36,37]. While these areas have seen significant advancements, there remains a gap in theoretical analysis and systematic analyses of research hotspots and emerging developmental trends. Therefore, this study addresses these gaps by integrating bibliometric analysis with sustainability transition theory to map the evolution of this field, identify collaboration patterns, and provide insights into future research directions.

Bibliometric analysis is a scientific research tool that integrates mathematical and statistical methods to analyze the scientific literature, uncovering thematic evolution and trends within specific research fields [38]. For instance, Li et al. conducted a bibliometric analysis of construction and demolition waste management, identifying research hotspots in this domain [39]. Similarly, Geng and Maimaituerxun examined green marketing in sustainable consumption, revealing the knowledge framework that integrates green marketing and sustainable consumption [40]. This method provides researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the development dynamics within specific fields and aids in predicting future research directions.

Bibliometric analyses specifically targeting green building materials are relatively limited, particularly regarding research hotspots, collaboration networks, and future trends. This study utilizes the Web of Science database in combination with the CiteSpace tool (6.4.R1 Advanced) to conduct a bibliometric analysis of global green building material research over the past 22 years. The study focuses on changes in publication volume, disciplinary distribution, research hotspots, keyword clustering, and evolutionary trends, aiming to reveal the knowledge structure and emerging trends within the field of green building materials. The findings not only address gaps in the existing literature but also provide valuable insights for technological innovation, policy development, and market promotion in the green building materials industry.

2. Research Methods and Data Sources

2.1. Data Collection

This study selects the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) as the data source due to its comprehensive nature, which supports various bibliometric analysis techniques. It provides the most detailed global academic information resources, including data on authors, institutions, countries, journals, and citations, covering a wide range of fields such as natural sciences, biomedicine, and engineering technologies. WoS’s coverage of core journals in the field of engineering technology is over 85% (including all Q1 journals) [41]. Its stable citation index and broad disciplinary coverage, which includes core journals and influential publications in green building materials research, makies its data highly representative. While Scopus offers extensive coverage in engineering and technology, its indexing standards differ from those of WoS. Additionally, PubMed primarily focuses on biomedical and life sciences, making it less relevant to the scope of this study. Given the need for feasibility and data consistency, relying on a single database streamlines data processing and improves research reproducibility and data reliability. Therefore, this study exclusively utilizes WoS as the data source.

For this study, we search in “Web of Science Core Collection”; the complete search query is as follows: TS = (“green building” OR “green building material” OR “building energy-saving thermal insulation” OR ((“carbon emission reduction” OR “low carbon emission reduction” OR “carbon emissions” OR “green development”) and buliding)) AND DOCUMENT TYPES: (Article OR Proceedings Paper OR Review Article OR Book Chapters OR Early Access OR Book) AND PUBLICATION YEARS: 2003–2024. “Topic” serves as the search criterion for relevant terms, with the search fields including titles, abstracts, and keywords. The selection of keywords was based on core concepts in the green building materials field, such as low carbon, circular economy, and energy efficiency, as well as high-frequency terms found in the existing literature. We conducted a preliminary search to validate the coverage of these keywords and referred to international standards (e.g., ISO 21930:2017 [42], which defines green building materials) to ensure terminology consistency. The search spans the period from 2003 to 2024. A pilot analysis showed that pre-2003 publications accounted for <3% of total output, primarily focused on generic material science rather than sustainability-driven green building materials. Therefore, 2003 was selected as the starting year to ensure that the dataset aligns with the modern research framework of green building materials. To minimize the impact of cross-disciplinary citation differences, we restricted the search scope to the ‘Engineering’ and ‘Environmental Science’ categories and excluded non-core journals, such as pure materials science or chemistry journals. Additionally, we manually verified the thematic relevance of the top 100 highly cited documents. After screening article titles and removing irrelevant publications, the study identifies 5381 relevant documents. The data collection was completed on 20 December 2024.

2.2. Analysis Methods

We use CiteSpace software for visual analysis of the data, leveraging its advantages to analyze the number of published articles, publishing institutions, literature sources, core author groups, research hotspots, and future trends. Its visualization capabilities facilitate the depiction of research hotspot distributions in the field of green building materials, enabling a comprehensive and holistic quantitative analysis. CiteSpace’s preference for highly cited papers may overlook early innovations but is useful for identifying mainstream trends [43]. To ensure the visualization quality of CiteSpace, focus the analysis on the highly influential literature and reduce redundant information to clarify the evolution path of research topics; CiteSpace parameter settings are as follows: Time slicing: 2003–2024, with a 1-year interval; Co-citation threshold: Minimum citation frequency set to 5, with Top N per slice set to 50; Clustering algorithm: LLR (Log-Likelihood Ratio) algorithm, with a clustering size of 50; and Pruning method: Pathfinder network pruning to simplify the complexity of the visualization. As illustrated in Figure 1, this study comprises the following steps:

Figure 1. Research process.

• Statistical Characteristics Analysis. General Observation: Observe the number of publications per year and their trends, as well as the primary categories of papers published on the topic of green building materials. Research Network Analysis: Analyze the collaboration networks among institutions, regions, and authors to evaluate existing collaborative networks. Academic Influence Analysis: Conduct co-citation network analyses from the perspectives of journals, the literature, and authors to identify the current research themes and status in the field;
• Research Hotspots Evolution Trends Analysis. Utilize Key Clusters, Keyword Timeline, Keyword Burst, and Keyword Co-occurrence to analyze and evaluate the evolution of green building materials research, while predicting potential future research hotspots;
• Theoretical Knowledge Framework Construction and Future Research Directions. Sustainability Transitions Theory (STT) provides a framework for understanding the complex multi-dimensional processes involved in transitioning to a sustainable society. It highlights the interplay of technology, policy, societal norms, and practices in achieving long-term systemic changes that address global sustainability challenges [44,45]. Guided by sustainability transitions theory, we analyze GBM research through three lenses: (1) Niche Innovation: Emerging technologies challenging conventional practices, such as novel materials, (2) Regime Adaptation: Policy and industry standards integrating innovations, such as LEED certification updates, and (3) Landscape Pressures: Global imperatives steering research priorities, such as IPCC targets. Based on the results of the above analyses, construct the Theoretical Knowledge Framework for the field of green building materials and propose key future research directions to inspire ideas and further exploration by other scholars.

3. Results and Analysis

3.1. General Observation

As outlined earlier, the curated database on Green Building Materials encompasses 5381 publications published over the last 22 years. Figure 2 illustrates the annual publication numbers related to green building materials research from 2003 to 2024. The red bars represent the number of publications each year, while the blue dotted line indicates the exponential growth trend of the publication numbers, described by the equation y = 22.515 × e^0.1688x with an R² = 0.8098, signifying a strong correlation. The number of publications has steadily increased over the years. The initial years (2003–2005) showed relatively low publication numbers, ranging from 9 to 23. A notable upward trend began in 2006, with publication numbers exceeding 50, followed by consistent growth. Significant milestones can be observed in 2013, where the number of publications surpassed 200, and in 2018, when the number reached 344.

Figure 2. The number of documents from 2003 to 2024.

In recent years (2020–2024), the number of publications has stabilized at a higher level, averaging around 450 publications per year, with a peak of 490 in 2022. This trend reflects growing global attention to research on green building materials and its increasing importance in academic and industrial contexts. The overall exponential growth pattern indicates a rapidly expanding research field.

The predominant publication types include articles (62%), followed by Proceedings Paper (26%), reviews (6%), and book chapters (2%), with other types making up a mere 4% as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Document types of the UHV literature.

Figure 4 illustrates the disciplinary distribution of publications related to green building materials, visualized using a category co-occurrence network. Each node represents a specific research category, and the size of the node corresponds to the number of publications within that category. The connections (edges) between nodes indicate interdisciplinary relationships, where categories share co-authored or co-cited publications. The color gradient, ranging from red to yellow, reflects the time span of publications, with red indicating earlier research and yellow representing more recent studies.

Figure 4. The category of the publications.

Dominant Categories. The largest nodes correspond to core disciplines such as Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, Green and Sustainable Science and Technology, Energy and Fuels, Engineering, Civil, and Construction and Building Technology. These fields highlight the multidisciplinary nature of green building materials research, emphasizing its focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and engineering applications.

The network displays strong connections between categories such as Environmental Sciences and Engineering as well as Multidisciplinary, indicating significant cross-disciplinary collaborations. Similarly, links between Architecture, Materials Science, Multidisciplinary, and Urban Studies suggest an integration of design, material innovation, and urban development. Categories like Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Information Systems, and Management appear as smaller nodes, indicating emerging interest in applying advanced technologies and management strategies to green building materials research.

3.2. Research Network Analysis

The research network analysis focuses on examining the collaborative relationships and interactions among authors, institutions, and countries within the field of green building materials. This analysis highlights key contributors, collaborative networks, and their influence on the development of the research domain.

3.2.1. Collaboration Among Institutions

The institutional collaboration network reveals distinct patterns of knowledge sharing and innovation diffusion within the green building materials field. Figure 5 illustrates the institutional collaboration network in the field of green building materials research, where each node represents an institution, and the size of the node reflects its research influence and publication output.

Figure 5. Collaboration among institutions.

Prominent institutions such as Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and Tsinghua University are identified as key hubs with significant contributions and strong collaborative ties. Several clusters of regional collaborations are evident, such as those among Chinese institutions like Tsinghua University, Tongji University, and Shenzhen University, as well as Malaysian institutions centered around Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. International collaborations, such as those involving National University of Singapore and other global institutions, highlight the worldwide nature of this research field. Emerging contributors, such as Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) and Shandong Jianzhu University, also appear within the network, indicating growing research activity. This network underscores the importance of leading institutions in driving innovation, fostering global partnerships, and advancing the field, while also identifying opportunities to strengthen connections between emerging and established institutions.

Table 1 lists the top 20 institutions contributing to green building materials research. Hong Kong Polytechnic University leads with 121 citations, followed by Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) with 89 and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia with 83. Other key institutions include National University of Singapore (64 citations), Tongji University (63 citations), and Shenzhen University (56 citations). Notable contributors also include City University of Hong Kong, University of New South Wales Sydney, and Tsinghua University. Emerging institutions like Griffith University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology highlight the global reach of research in this field, with strong representation from Asia, Australia, and Africa. These institutions are driving innovation and sustainability in green building practices.

Table 1. Top 20 institutions *.

Rank	Freq.	Year	Institutions
1	121	2010	Hong Kong Polytechnic University
2	89	2016	Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB)
3	83	2013	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
4	64	2012	National University of Singapore
5	63	2005	Tongji University
6	56	2017	Shenzhen University
7	56	2009	Chongqing University
8	37	2012	City University of Hong Kong
9	36	2013	University of New South Wales Sydney
10	35	2007	Tsinghua University
11	35	2008	State University System of Florida
12	32	2016	Universiti Malaya
13	32	2012	Tianjin University
14	31	2005	Harbin Institute of Technology
15	30	2017	Griffith University
16	29	2013	South China University of Technology
17	29	2012	University of Hong Kong
18	28	2015	Universiti Teknologi MARA
19	28	2021	National Institute of Technology (NIT System)
20	25	2022	Kwame Nkrumah University Science and Technology

* Selection Criteria: g-index (k = 5), LRF = 2.5. L/N = 10, LBY = 5. E = 1.0.

3.2.2. Collaboration Among Countries

The analysis uncovers international collaborations, reflecting the global nature of research in green building materials. Figure 6 illustrates the country-level collaboration network in green building materials research, with each node representing a country and its size corresponding to research output in terms of publication numbers. China, USA, and Malaysia stand out as the most prominent nodes, indicating their leading roles and significant contributions to the field, with China being the dominant player. The network reveals strong regional clusters, such as collaborations among Asian countries like China, Malaysia, India, and Singapore, as well as among European nations like England, Germany, Italy, and France. Additionally, robust cross-regional collaborations, such as those between China–USA, China–Malaysia, and USA–England, highlight the global nature of the research. Countries like India, Australia, Iran, and Egypt show growing research activity and moderate collaboration, while smaller nodes, such as Vietnam, Thailand, and New Zealand, reflect emerging contributors.

Figure 6. Collaboration among countries.

International collaborations play a crucial role in facilitating knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and interdisciplinary advancements. Leading countries like China, the USA, and Malaysia act as research hubs, driving high research productivity through strong funding support, advanced infrastructure, and policy-driven sustainability initiatives. Cross-border collaborations enable the transfer of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI-driven material optimization, lifecycle assessment tools, and novel material synthesis methods. Emerging research countries, such as India, Australia, and Egypt, benefit from these partnerships by accessing advanced methodologies and integrating global best practices into local GBM innovations.

These collaborations also facilitate the transfer of advanced green building materials technologies from developed to developing countries, bridging technological gaps and making innovations like phase change materials (PCMs), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and AI-optimized energy modeling more accessible to emerging economies. Moreover, they contribute to the harmonization of sustainability standards, influencing policies such as LEED (USA), BREEAM (UK), and China’s Green Building Evaluation Standard (GBES).

This network underscores the importance of leading countries in driving global innovation, the role of regional clusters in fostering collaboration, and the potential for strengthening connections with emerging contributors to bridge gaps and enhance international research efforts. Future collaborations should focus on increasing technological accessibility in emerging markets and promoting the harmonization of global sustainability standards.

3.3. Academic Influence Analysis

Academic Influence Analysis involves conducting co-citation network analyses from the perspectives of journals, the literature, and authors to uncover key research themes and the status of the field. This approach helps identify influential publications, prominent authors, and impactful journals, providing insights into the intellectual structure and foundational works that shape the research domain.

3.3.1. Document Co-Citation Analysis

Figure 7 presents a co-citation network of documents in the field of green building materials research. Each node represents a specific document, with its size reflecting the frequency of being co-cited, with larger nodes indicating higher co-citation counts and thus greater influence within the field. Prominent documents, such as Zuo, J. (2014) [46], Darko, A. (2017) [47], Chan, A.P.C. (2018) [48], and Olubunmi, O.A. (2016) [49], stand out as key references shaping the domain. These documents have been frequently co-cited, serving as key references for topics such as sustainability assessment [46], green building adoption [50,51,52], and project management [49,53,54] in sustainable construction. Zuo, J. (2014) [46], for example, provides critical insights into the drivers and barriers of green building practices [43], while Darko A. (2017) explores global trends in green building research [44].

Figure 7. Document co-citation.

The network reveals distinct clusters of documents representing thematic areas within the field. For instance, studies around Darko A. (2017) [47] and Chan, A.P.C. (2018) [48] focus on adoption frameworks and green building innovation [1,18,50], while those around Zuo, J. (2014) delve into the broader implications of green building development [43]. These clusters reflect key areas of research activity and collaboration.

Foundational works from earlier years maintain significant co-citation links, highlighting their enduring impact on the field [55]. Meanwhile, newer works, such as those by Geng, Y. and Zhang, Y.Q., are beginning to shape emerging research directions, including lifecycle assessments and policy-driven sustainability initiatives [56,57]. These relationships demonstrate how past research provides a framework for contemporary advancements, particularly in integrating advanced materials, sustainability metrics, and digital innovations in green building practices.

Table 2 presents the top 10 most cited documents in the field of green building materials research, ranked by citation frequency. These documents, published between 2014 and 2019, have made significant contributions to the field and are frequently referenced by researchers.

Table 2. Top 10 most cited documents *.

Rank	Freq	Year	Cited Document
1	132	2017	Doan, D.T., 2017, Build. Environ. 2017, 123, 243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.07.007 [58]
2	125	2014	Zuo, J., 2014, Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 2014, 30, 271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.10.021 [46]
3	86	2018	Chan, A.P.C., 2018, J. Clean. Prod. 2018, 172, 1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.235 [48]
4	82	2017	Illankoon, I.C.S., 2017, J. Clean. Prod. 2017, 164, 209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.06.206 [59]
5	81	2018	Mattoni, B., 2018, Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 2018, 82, 950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.105 [60]
6	73	2016	Olubunmi, O.A., 2016, Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 2016, 59, 1611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.01.028 [49]
7	72	2017	Darko, A., 2017, Habitat. Int. 2017, 60, 34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2016.12.007 [47]
8	71	2018	Shan, M., 2018, Sustain. Cities Soc. 2018, 39, 172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2018.02.034 [61]
9	68	2019	Geng, Y., 2019, Energ. Build. 2019, 183, 500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.11.017 [56]
10	66	2018	Ding, Z., 2018, Build. Environ. 2018, 133, 32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.02.012 [62]

* Selection Criteria: g-index (k = 3), LRF = 2.5. L/N = 10, LBY = 5. E = 1.0.

Doan, D.T. (2017) and Zuo, J. (2014) provide comprehensive insights into the benefits and barriers of green building adoption [46,58], while Chan, A.P.C. (2018) and Illankoon, I.C.S. (2017) analyze project delivery methods and the effectiveness of green building rating tools [48,59]. Studies like Mattoni, B. (2018) and Olubunmi, O.A. (2016) emphasize the role of innovative materials and sustainable practices in improving environmental and economic outcomes, particularly in developing economies [49,60]. Darko, A. (2017) investigates the drivers and barriers to adopting green building technologies [47], while Shan, M. (2018) examines the role of policy incentives in promoting sustainable urban development [61,63]. Additionally, Geng, Y. (2019) highlights the importance of life cycle assessments in quantifying environmental impacts [56], and Ding, Z. (2018) explores cost-benefit analyses to assess the economic viability of green buildings [62].

These co-citation relationships significantly influence research outputs and innovation in green building materials by establishing a robust theoretical foundation, advancing methodological consistency, and facilitating interdisciplinary integration. Strong co-citation clusters indicate the consolidation of best practices and emerging research frontiers, guiding future investigations toward unexplored areas such as carbon capture integration, digital twin applications, and blockchain-enabled material tracking. Collectively, these highly cited works provide a strong foundation for advancing sustainability in the construction industry, addressing critical challenges and offering practical solutions for green building practices.

3.3.2. Collaboration Among Authors

Figure 8 presents the co-citation network of authors in green building materials research, where each node represents an author, and the size of the node reflects the frequency of their co-citation. Prominent authors such as Zuo, J., Darko, A., Chan, A.P.C., and Hwang, B.G. emerge as key figures, frequently cited together for their influential contributions to topics such as sustainability assessment, green building practices, and project management in sustainable construction [1,18,36,46,47,48,50,51,52,53,64,65,66,67]. The network reveals distinct clusters of closely connected authors, such as those around Zuo, J., Darko, A. and Agyekum, K., highlighting shared research focuses like sustainability frameworks and the adoption of green technologies [68]. Strong links between authors like Darko A and Chan, A.P.C. [48] further indicate thematic alignment in areas like green building innovation. Temporal trends show that earlier influential authors, such as Fuerst F and Robichaud LB, laid the groundwork in areas like green certifications and cost-benefit analyses [54,69], while more recent contributors, such as Nguyen, H. and Guo, K., are advancing contemporary topics like lifecycle assessments and environmental impact evaluations [70,71]. This co-citation network underscores the foundational figures and evolving themes in the field, offering valuable insights.

Figure 8. Author co-citation.

Table 3 lists the top ten most cited authors in green building materials research, highlighting their key contributions. Darko, A. and Zuo, J. lead with significant work on green building adoption and sustainability assessment. Hwang, B.G. and Kibert, C.J. are recognized for studies on sustainable construction practices [72,73,74,75]. Gou, Z.H. and Cole, R.J. focus on green building performance and environmental design [76,77,78]. Zhang, X.L. and Kats, G. contributed to green building innovations and economics [79,80,81], while the US Green Building Council (USGBC) promoted LEED certification. Chan, A.P.C. is known for research on project delivery models. These authors have shaped the foundation of the field through their impactful work.

Table 3. Top 10 most cited authors *.

Rank	Freq	Year	Cited Author
1	391	2017	Darko, A [1,18,34,35,47,48,50,51,52,65,66,67,82,83]
2	382	2015	Zuo, J. [37,46,64,84,85,86]
3	309	2015	Hwang, B.G. [53,61,72,73,74]
4	241	2008	Kibert, C.J. [75]
5	239	2014	Gou, Z.H. [18,76,77]
6	232	2005	Cole, R.J. [78]
7	230	2013	Zhang, X.L. [19,23,79,80]
8	230	2006	Kats, G. [81]
9	215	2011	USGBC
10	209	2017	Chan, A.P.C. [18,35,48,52,65,83]

* Selection Criteria: g-index (k = 3), LRF = 2.5. L/N = 10, LBY = 5. E = 1.0.

3.3.3. Journal Co-Citation Analysis

Figure 9 illustrates the journal co-citation network in green building materials research, where each node represents a journal, and the size of the node reflects its co-citation frequency. Core journals such as Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Journal of Cleaner Production, Building and Environment, and Energy and Buildings stand out as the most influential sources, frequently cited together for their contributions to sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental impact in construction. The network reveals clusters of journals, such as Sustainability and Journal of Environmental Management, which focus on environmental policies and resource management, and Construction and Building Materials and Cement and Concrete Composites, which emphasize material science and construction technologies. Strong co-citation links between journals like Journal of Cleaner Production and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the field, integrating clean production and renewable energy with sustainable construction. Additionally, emerging journals like Sustainability and Sustainable Cities and Society reflect new research trends in urban sustainability and smart cities. This analysis identifies the core resources driving the field and highlights its interdisciplinary and evolving nature.

Figure 9. Journal co-citation.

Table 4 highlights the top 10 most cited journals in green building materials research, reflecting their significant impact on the field. Building and Environment (2136 citations) and Energy and Buildings (1992 citations) are the most influential, focusing on sustainable building and energy efficiency. The Journal of Cleaner Production (1674 citations) and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (1550 citations) emphasize clean production and renewable energy. Sustainability-Basel (1147 citations) and Sustainable Cities and Society (948 citations) reflect growing interest in urban sustainability. Other notable journals like Building Research and Information (954 citations) and Energy Policy (815 citations) address policy and technical aspects, while Applied Energy (771 citations) and Journal of Building Engineering (752 citations) focus on energy systems and engineering solutions. Together, these journals form the foundation for research in green building and sustainability.

Table 4. Top 10 most cited journals *.

Rank	Freq.	Year	Cited Journal
1	2136	2003	Building and Environment
2	1992	2005	Energy and Buildings
3	1674	2011	Journal of Cleaner Production
4	1550	2011	Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
5	1147	2016	Sustainability
6	954	2005	Building Research and Information
7	948	2014	Sustainable Cities and Society
8	815	2009	Energy Policy
9	771	2010	Applied Energy
10	752	2018	Journal of Building Engineering

* Selection criteria: g-index (k = 2), LRF = 2.5. L/N = 10, LBY = 5. E = 1.0.

4. Research Hotspots and Evolution Trends

The analysis of research hotspots and trends focuses on key clusters, keyword timeline, keyword burst, and keyword co-occurrence. Key clusters show main research themes, the keyword timeline tracks topic changes over time, keyword bursts highlight emerging trends, and keyword co-occurrence reveals relationships between key terms. These analyses help understand the development and future directions of green building materials research.

4.1. Keyword Clusters

Figure 10 illustrates the research clusters network in the field of green building materials, generated based on keyword occurrences. Each cluster represents a thematic research area, with nodes indicating specific keywords and their sizes reflecting their frequency of use. Connections between nodes signify relationships or co-occurrences, while different colors and numbers identify distinct clusters.

Figure 10. Research clusters network map (by keyword occurrences).

The central clusters, such as Cluster #0 (Energy Conservation), Cluster #3 (Green Building), and Cluster #5 (Green Buildings), represent the core focus areas of the research, and they align with the lens of Regime Adaptation in STT. These clusters address key aspects of sustainable construction, including energy-saving strategies, environmentally friendly building practices, and innovative technologies for green construction. The prominence of these clusters highlights the foundational role of energy efficiency and green building practices in advancing sustainability within the construction industry and highlights ongoing efforts to adapt and modify the existing construction regime to accommodate more sustainable practices.

Supporting clusters such as Cluster #10 (Renewable Energy) and Cluster #7 (Thermal Comfort) indicate emerging and specialized topics in the field. These clusters are connected to the Niche Innovation lens in STT, which examines the development of novel technologies and materials that challenge traditional construction practices. The renewable energy cluster highlights the integration of renewable technologies, such as solar and wind energy, into green building designs, while the thermal comfort cluster focuses on ensuring user comfort and livability in sustainable buildings. Both areas reflect innovations that disrupt traditional building practices and contribute to the creation of new more sustainable building paradigms.

Additionally, Cluster #8 (Compressive Strength) emphasizes the structural performance of green materials, showcasing innovations in materials like concrete that balance strength and sustainability. This relates to Niche Innovation, where research on the material properties of green building materials can offer new alternatives to conventional construction materials.

The growing importance of environmental impact assessment is reflected in Cluster #11 (Life Cycle Assessment), which evaluates the environmental footprint of green building materials throughout their lifecycle. This aligns with Landscape Pressures in STT, as life cycle assessments consider the broader external pressures, such as climate mandates and global sustainability goals, that push for greener practices across industries. These pressures influence both the development and integration of green materials, ensuring that their environmental impacts are thoroughly assessed.

Clusters like Cluster #6 (Sustainable Construction) and Cluster #9 (Sustainable Development) expand the focus to global sustainability goals, connecting green building practices with broader environmental and social objectives [87]. These clusters demonstrate the evolving priorities in the field, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to integrate environmental, economic, and social sustainability into green construction. By addressing systemic sustainability challenges through integrated approaches, these clusters reflect the larger societal shifts and Landscape Pressures that push for the transformation of the construction sector to support sustainability transitions.

Table 5 highlights 12 research clusters (#0–#11) in green building materials, showcasing diverse themes and evolving trends in the field. Using the framework of STT, these clusters reflect the interplay between Niche Innovation, Regime Adaptation, and Landscape Pressures in the process of transitioning toward a more sustainable construction sector.

Table 5. Top 10 occurrence keywords *.

Cluster	Notes	Year	Keywords
0	16	2009	green building; energy efficiency; performance management; green building codes; sick building syndrome|green buildings; thermal comfort; green glass space; earth air; passive design
1	16	2015	green building; sustainable construction; scient metric review; service performance satisfaction; indoor environmental quality|green buildings; waste management; waste generation; building rating tools; top pv system
2	15	2017	green building; indoor environmental quality; energy consumption; post-occupancy evaluation; operating performance|green buildings; green building certification; discrete choice experiment; knowledge base; indoor air quality
3	15	2007	green building; energy efficiency; life cycle assessment; thermal performance; sustainable architecture|sustainable development; energy conservation; economic poverty; complex safety; green bonds
4	15	2016	green building; web crawler; text mining; Chinese public; compaction failure mode|construction industry; green buildings; developing economy; resource effectiveness; green housing development
5	15	2014	green buildings; social change; sustainability transitions; stimulating policy; green dwelling|green building; passive design; machine learning; energy demand; surrogate model
6	14	2013	green building; sustainable development; sustainable buildings; sustainable development goals; stakeholder awareness|sustainable construction; analytical hierarchy process; partial least square; environmental sustainability; construction method
7	14	2015	green building; energy consumption; indoor environmental quality; post-occupancy evaluation; operating performance|thermal comfort; energy performance; surrogate model; dynamic multi-objective optimization; energy buildings
8	13	2019	compressive strength; ceramic waste powder; solar reflectivity; scanning electron microscopy; capillary water absorption|thermal conductivity; limestone filler; cement paste; waste glass powder; rolling shear performance
9	13	2011	sustainable development; green buildings; climate change; environmental Kuznets curve; European union|green building; project delivery; construction challenges; social criteria; sustainability indicators
10	12	2012	green building; building energy efficiency; phase change materials; compressive strength; Autodesk Revit|renewable energy; tall building; dynamic thermal simulation; electrical energy storage; ice storage
11	11	2015	green building; environmental impact; enclosure structure; target distance method; Indian construction industry|life cycle assessment; global warming; circular economy; renewable energy; service industries

* Selection Criteria: g-index (k = 4), LRF = 2.5. L/N = 10, LBY = 5. E = 1.0.

Foundational clusters such as #0 and #3 focus on core topics like green buildings, energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and life cycle assessment, establishing the principles of sustainable construction. These clusters align with the Regime Adaptation lens of STT, as they focus on adapting existing construction practices and policies to incorporate green building practices. They reflect the ongoing modifications in the construction regime to address energy-saving strategies and environmental sustainability.

User-centric clusters like #2 and #7 emphasize indoor environmental quality, energy consumption, and post-occupancy evaluation, reflecting the importance of operational performance and user satisfaction. These clusters correspond to Niche Innovation in STT, where innovations are developed in response to the need for more comfortable and energy-efficient buildings. They focus on novel solutions such as phase change materials (PCMs) to regulate indoor temperatures, contributing to improved occupant comfort and energy efficiency.

Material innovation is prominent in #8 and #10, focusing on compressive strength, waste reuse, and advanced materials like PCMs and renewable energy integration. These clusters are central to Niche Innovation, as they involve the development of new materials and technologies that challenge traditional building practices. The integration of renewable energy technologies into green building designs and the advancement of innovative materials reflect efforts to introduce sustainable alternatives to conventional construction materials.

Broader sustainability themes emerge in #6, #9, and #11, addressing climate change, stakeholder awareness, circular economy, and life cycle assessment. These clusters relate to Landscape Pressures in STT, representing the external societal and environmental forces driving the transition toward sustainability in the construction sector. These pressures, such as global climate mandates and the need for carbon reduction, influence the adaptation of construction practices and push for the integration of sustainable development goals and life cycle assessments.

Additionally, #4 and #5 highlight the use of text mining, machine learning, and policy transitions to enhance resource efficiency and green housing development [84]. These clusters illustrate the increasing role of Niche Innovation, as technological advancements like AI and big data analytics enable smarter more efficient construction practices. These tools are facilitating the transition to more sustainable construction practices by improving resource management and optimizing green building designs.

The emergence of #7 reflects the growing demand for building energy efficiency, a key aspect of Niche Innovation. Innovations like PCMs play a crucial role in regulating indoor temperature and reducing energy consumption, contributing to a “low-carbon-comfort-circular” building model. Field studies show that PCM technology saves energy, moderates temperatures, boosts solar control, and cuts consumption by 14–90% [88]. This shift aligns with the broader push for circular economy solutions, where materials and energy use are optimized and waste is minimized.

The 12 clusters reflect a diverse and interconnected set of themes, each aligning with distinct dimensions of the STT. This alignment highlights the systemic interplay between technological advancements, institutional adjustments, and global sustainability imperatives. Early research clusters (#0, #3) focus on foundational principles like energy efficiency and life cycle assessment, while newer clusters (#8, #10) highlight that emerging technologies such as phase change materials (PCMs) and ceramic waste reuse exemplify niche-level breakthroughs. Clusters like #2 and #7 address user-centric issues, such as indoor environmental quality and energy performance [89,90], while #6, #9, and #11 highlight broader sustainability goals and lifecycle impacts. Emerging tools and methodologies, as seen in #4 and #5, showcase the increasing role of data analytics and computational techniques in advancing green building research [91,92].

These clusters show an evolving multi-dimensional approach to green buildings, integrating materials science, energy efficiency, occupant well-being, and sustainability metrics. The interconnectivity of clusters, such as thermal comfort (Niche), energy conservation (Regime), and climate resilience (Landscape), indicates a shift toward a holistic building design that incorporates both technological and user-centric solutions. These interconnected themes reflect the Regime Adaptation process, where existing construction norms are adjusted to better align with sustainability goals. The emergence of these clusters indicates ongoing Niche Innovation and the growing influence of external pressures, particularly those related to climate change and sustainability imperatives. The growing emphasis on Lifecycle Assessment, Circular Economy, and Smart Materials points to the increasing adoption of systemic approaches that address both environmental and social sustainability challenges.

4.2. Keyword Timeline

Figure 11 illustrates the keyword timeline for green building materials research, showing the evolution of key research themes from 2003 to 2024. Each horizontal line represents a cluster, labeled on the right with its theme (For example, #0 Energy Conservation, #3 Green Building, #11 Life Cycle Assessment), while the nodes on the timeline indicate keywords associated with each cluster. The size of the nodes corresponds to the frequency of the keyword’s appearance, and the color gradient reflects the time period, with darker colors indicating earlier years and lighter colors representing more recent developments.

Figure 11. Keyword timeline.

• Early Research (2003–2010). During this period, clusters like #0 Energy Conservation and #3 Green Building dominate early research, focusing on energy efficiency, sustainability, and design. These clusters align with the Regime Adaptation lens of STT, where efforts are focused on modifying existing systems and practices to incorporate sustainability principles. The emphasis on reducing energy consumption and promoting green building standards signifies the adaptation of the construction regime to address environmental concerns. Energy conservation and green building practices during this phase set the foundation for future developments in sustainable construction;
• Expanding Themes (2010–2015). As the research landscape evolved, clusters like #4 Construction Industry and #6 Sustainable Construction emerged, reflecting a broader focus on industry challenges, technology adoption, and sustainable development goals. This period saw the growing recognition of user-centric issues such as thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality in #7 Thermal Comfort. These clusters represent a shift toward Niche Innovation, where new technologies and materials begin to emerge within the green building sector, influencing the construction industry’s ability to adapt to new sustainability demands. At the same time, Regime Adaptation is still central, as the industry strives to integrate these innovations into existing practices and regulatory frameworks;
• Material Innovation (2015–2020). During this period, the research focus shifted more toward material innovation, with clusters such as #8 Compressive Strength and #10 Renewable Energy gaining prominence. These clusters emphasized the integration of advanced materials like phase change materials (PCMs) and renewable energy technologies into building designs, marking a robust Niche Innovation phase under the STT framework. The increasing focus on material science innovations, like the use of ceramic waste powder, illustrates a move toward more sustainable materials within the construction sector. The surge in PCM-related research during 2015–2020 can be contextualized within broader policy landscapes, notably the European Union’s Renovation Wave Strategy (2020). This policy initiative aimed to double annual energy renovation rates by 2030, prioritizing energy-efficient retrofits in existing buildings—a goal directly aligned with PCMs’ ability to reduce heating/cooling demands by 14–90% through latent heat storage [88]. The strategic alignment between material innovation and policy incentives illustrates how Regime Adaptation (policy frameworks) accelerates Niche Innovation by creating a market pull for sustainable technologies;
• Recent Trends (2020–2024). In recent years, clusters like #9 Sustainable Development and #11 Life Cycle Assessment highlight emerging interests in policy, health, and the environmental impact of green building materials. These clusters align with Landscape Pressures, as global forces, such as climate change mandates and sustainability goals, shape the direction of green building research. The inclusion of keywords like renewable energy and circular economy reflects the increasing urgency of addressing environmental challenges at a systemic level. These trends show a continued push for Niche Innovation through the integration of circular economy principles and advanced lifecycle assessments, aiming to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings while promoting resource efficiency.

The keyword timeline reveals a paradigm shift from isolated technical fixes to systemic sustainability transitions, mapped explicitly to STT’s three dimensions. Niche Innovation (2010–2020): Bursts in “phase change materials” (2015–2020) and “machine learning” (2018–2024) reflect disruptive technologies. Regime Adaptation (2015–Present): “Circular economy” (2020–2024) emerged alongside policies like China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021), which set binding targets for the output value of the resource recycling industry to reach 5 trillion CNY by 2025. Landscape Pressures (2020–2024): “Carbon neutrality” and “climate resilience” dominate post-2020, mirroring the IPCC’s 2023 warning on accelerating decarbonization.

4.3. Keyword Burst

Figure 12 presents the top 25 keywords with the strongest citation bursts in green building materials research from 2003 to 2024. These bursts indicate periods when specific keywords gained significant research attention, reflecting emerging trends and shifts in focus within the field.

Figure 12. Keyword Burst.Red bars show the active citation burst periods when keywords gained the most attention. Blue bars represent the full timeline (2003–2024) for context.

• Early Research Focus (2003–2015). Keywords like “green building” (2003–2015) and “sustainable development” (2005–2013) show strong bursts during this period, representing Regime Adaptation in STT. During this phase, the research focused on adapting the construction industry to sustainability principles, emphasizing the integration of environmental considerations into mainstream building practices. Other terms, such as “energy conservation” (2008–2014) and “renewable energy” (2009–2013) reflect early efforts to introduce Niche Innovations within the green building sector, aiming to shift the construction industry toward more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly materials and practices. These terms underscore the foundational work of integrating sustainability into the established building practices of the time;
• Transition to Specialized Topics (2016–2021). Keywords like “energy performance” (2020–2021), “indoor air quality” (2018–2021), and “policy” (2017–2019) gained prominence, indicating a focus on Niche Innovation and Regime Adaptation in response to operational efficiency demands, user satisfaction, and regulatory frameworks. “Sustainability assessment” (2019) emerged as a prominent keyword, representing Landscape Pressures as governments and international bodies placed increasing emphasis on quantifying environmental impacts. This transition reflects the growing need for the construction sector to adapt to emerging environmental standards and policies, addressing global sustainability challenges through more specialized, actionable research.
• Recent Trends and Emerging Topics (2021–2024). More recent bursts include “strength” (2021–2024), “mechanical property” (2021–2024), and “compressive strength” (2021–2024), highlighting Niche Innovations in material performance and durability. The focus has shifted to developing advanced materials capable of withstanding environmental pressures while remaining sustainable. Emerging themes like “circular economy” (2022–2024), “carbon emission” (2022–2024), and “decision making” (2022–2024) reflect the growing influence of Landscape Pressures, driven by global calls for carbon neutrality and waste reduction. These topics underscore a significant shift toward sustainable material reuse, emissions reduction, and informed decision making in green construction [85,93,94,95], showing how the green building sector is increasingly aligning with global sustainability goals such as decarbonization and resource efficiency.

The keyword burst analysis illustrates a clear transition in green building materials research, from foundational concepts focused on energy efficiency and sustainable design to increasingly specialized and actionable domains like material innovation, lifecycle assessments, and circular economy applications. Niche Innovations, such as advanced materials and circular economy applications, are becoming central to the field, pointing to a future where the construction sector can drastically reduce its environmental impact. Regime Adaptation is evident as the research evolves to address challenges related to energy performance, indoor air quality, and policy-driven frameworks, highlighting the industry’s shift toward more sustainable regulated practices. Landscape Pressures, such as the need for carbon emission reductions and the drive for circular economy solutions, are increasingly shaping the focus of green building research, emphasizing the global alignment of the field with broader sustainability efforts. This trajectory reflects the maturation of the field and its role in addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges through science-driven solutions [96].

4.4. Keyword Co-Occurrence

Figure 13 illustrates the keyword co-occurrence network for green building materials research, highlighting frequently used terms and their relationships. Nodes represent keywords, with node sizes reflecting their frequency of use, and edges indicating co-occurrence relationships between terms. The color coding reflects the time periods when the keywords were most active, while clusters represent thematic areas.

Figure 13. Keyword co-occurrence.

The keyword co-occurrence network clearly highlights the central themes in green building materials research, which revolve around the integration of sustainability and performance enhancement in green building practices. The keyword “green building” dominates the network, reflecting its pivotal role in Regime Adaptation as the construction industry moves toward more sustainable practices. It is closely linked to terms such as “energy efficiency”, “sustainable construction”, “thermal comfort”, and “energy consumption”, which emphasize the industry’s adaptation to sustainability standards, integrating energy-saving strategies into building designs to minimize environmental impacts. Similarly, “sustainable development” serves as another major hub, connecting to keywords like “policy”, “life cycle assessment”, and “renewable energy”. This reflects the alignment of green building practices with broader Landscape Pressures. These keywords highlight how green building materials research is adapting to external forces like policy changes, global climate challenges, and the integration of renewable technologies.

Through keyword co-occurrence analysis, emerging topics in green building research become evident, focusing on advancements in energy efficiency, resource management, and user-centered sustainable design. Keywords such as “energy performance”, “circular economy”, and “carbon emissions” highlight a growing emphasis on energy optimization, resource efficiency, and emission reductions, key areas of Niche Innovation that aim to reduce environmental impacts and enhance building performance. The growing focus on “circular economy” reflects the systemic shifts driven by Landscape Pressures such as global resource scarcity and carbon neutrality mandates. Notably, these trends align with major policy frameworks, including China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) and the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan (2020). These policies exemplify Regime Adaptation, where institutional frameworks accelerate Niche Innovation to address Landscape Pressures like climate targets. Simultaneously, terms like “indoor environmental quality” and “occupant satisfaction” underscore the increasing importance of designing buildings that prioritize user well-being, a theme central to Niche Innovation and Regime Adaptation. These terms reflect the shift toward user-centered designs, which align with growing societal demands for healthier and more comfortable living spaces.

Keyword co-occurrence analysis also reveals the technical and methodological focus in green building research, especially advancements in materials and computational approaches. Keywords such as “strength”, “mechanical property”, and “compressive strength” demonstrate Niche Innovations in materials, highlighting the development of high-performance green materials that balance strength with sustainability. The increasing emphasis on “optimization”, “simulation”, and “model” further underscores the role of computational methods in enhancing building design, improving energy efficiency, and streamlining performance evaluations [82]. These advancements in material science are crucial to meeting the demands for Regime Adaptation to sustainable construction practices.

The map reveals strong connections between clusters, such as the integration of “climate change”, “policy”, and “construction industry”. This highlights efforts to address both environmental and social challenges through policy and industry collaboration. By addressing these Landscape Pressures, the research is moving toward a holistic approach to sustainability that incorporates policy, technology, and social norms.

The keyword co-occurrence network highlights the multi-dimensional and evolving nature of green building materials research. Central themes focus on improving building performance and aligning construction practices with global sustainability goals. Emerging trends, such as the circular economy and carbon reduction, demonstrate a shift toward addressing pressing environmental concerns. Emerging directions that may not have been deeply explored in the existing literature include the application of blockchain in the circular economy, implementation barriers in specific regions, and the integration of emerging technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in building carbon reduction efforts. Simultaneously, advancements in material science and computational methods point to continued innovation in the field. The strong interdisciplinary connections underline the importance of collaboration across policy, industry, and technology to drive progress in sustainable construction.

Table 6 highlights the top 10 keywords in green building materials research, showcasing key focus areas over time. “Green building” ranks first with 1538 mentions (2003), emphasizing its central role. Keywords like “performance” (578 mentions, 2007) and “design” (387 mentions, 2008) reflect efforts to optimize building functionality and innovative designs. Energy-related terms, such as “energy efficiency” (293 mentions, 2003) and “energy” (272 mentions, 2008), highlight the focus on reducing energy use. Broader themes like “sustainable development” (246 mentions, 2005), “management” (222 mentions, 2013), and “impact” (197 mentions, 2012) underline the attention to sustainability, resource management, and environmental effects. The keyword trends highlight a balanced approach in green building research, combining technical advancements, energy optimization, and sustainability goals, while progressively integrating management and impact assessments to support the evolution of sustainable construction practices.

Table 6. Top 10 keywords *.

Rank	Freq.	Year	Keywords
1	1538	2003	green building
2	578	2007	performance
3	387	2008	design
4	353	2009	green buildings
5	309	2009	construction
6	293	2003	energy efficiency
7	272	2008	energy
8	246	2005	sustainable development
9	222	2013	management
10	197	2012	impact

* Selection Criteria: g-index (k = 4), LRF = 2.5. L/N = 10, LBY = 5. E = 1.0.

5. Future Research Directions and Recommendations

The analysis of green building materials research from 2003 to 2024 reveals significant growth and diversification in this field, with an increasing focus on integrating sustainability principles with advancements in building performance. This research trajectory emphasizes the growing importance of green building materials in advancing global sustainability goals, such as carbon neutrality and resource efficiency. Central themes such as “green building”, “energy efficiency”, and “sustainable development” dominate the research, while additional focus areas include material innovation, user satisfaction, and environmental impacts. Keywords like “performance”, “design”, “management”, and “impact” highlight the intersection of material science, engineering, policy, and human-centered design. Strong collaboration networks among leading authors, institutions, and countries—such as China, the USA, and Malaysia—emphasize the global nature of the research, with key institutions like Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia playing prominent roles. Influential publications and leading journals, such as Building and Environment and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, have shaped research directions, addressing themes like lifecycle assessments and sustainability frameworks.

Recent trends in green building materials research include the integration of renewable energy technologies [97], the application of circular economy principles, and a focus on reducing carbon emissions. Advanced materials, such as phase change materials and ceramic waste, are gaining attention alongside computational methods like optimization and simulation. This evolution reflects a transition from foundational themes, such as energy conservation and green building codes, to cutting-edge research focused on high-performance materials, operational performance, and strategies for aligning green building practices with broader sustainability imperatives, such as the circular economy and carbon reduction. The dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of this field is evident in its ability to respond to the complex challenges of sustainable development.

While green building materials demonstrate significant environmental potential, there are three critical challenges that need to be prioritized:

(1)

Durability under Diverse Conditions: To be suitable for real-world applications, the biocomposite must retain at least 50% of its original properties after weathering exposure [98]. This underscores the need for rigorous testing and improvement in the material’s resistance to environmental factors, ensuring its long-term performance and reliability in real-world applications;

(2)

Cost–Benefit Equity: The results reveal considerable variation in the CO₂ and economic benefits of carbonated recycled concrete aggregate (cRCA) technology across different countries, with CO₂ benefits ranging from 0.7 in Brazil to 2.6 in Pakistan and economic benefits spanning from 18.5 in the USA to −5.6 in Pakistan [86]. Dynamic models that incorporate Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) analyses could help address this gap by providing a more comprehensive assessment of the long-term economic viability and environmental impact of cRCA technology, taking into account varying regional factors and improving cost–benefit equity;

(3)

Regulatory Harmonization: There is considerable variation in the completeness, accuracy, and compliance of lifecycle carbon accounting methods [99], suggesting that the regulatory efforts required will differ significantly between countries. A global open-access database for material properties would facilitate the development of context-specific standards, ensuring more tailored and accurate regulatory frameworks.

The continued evolution of green building materials requires a multidimensional approach that incorporates technological advancements, policy development, and sustainable practices. In order to support the global transition toward sustainable construction, researchers must address both current gaps in the field and emerging challenges. Below are key areas where future research can make a significant impact:

(1)

Advancement in Material Innovation and Performance. The development of high-performance durable materials that contribute to sustainability without compromising structural integrity remains a priority [100]. Future research should explore smart composites, phase change materials, and recycled aggregates, with a focus on improving their environmental performance and cost-effectiveness. Composite materials are also a direction worthy of research with regard to the potential of PCM-concrete composites harmonizing energy efficiency and structural integrity [101]. Moreover, reusing industrial by-products, such as ceramic powder and glass waste, presents a significant opportunity to mitigate environmental impacts and reduce the carbon footprint of construction materials;

(2)

Grants for pilot projects would be helpful, for instance, to allocate funding for emerging technologies, such as 3D-printed PCM modules, as seen in the EU’s Horizon Europe budget;

(3)

Technological integration and optimization: Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics will play a key role in optimizing building design and improving operational efficiency. Additionally, they require the interoperability of building management systems (BMS) to streamline data sharing. These technologies can enable real-time performance monitoring, predictive modeling, and automated optimization of green buildings, offering substantial benefits for energy savings, resource management, and overall building performance. Furthermore, advanced simulation and optimization models are essential for lifecycle management and can guide the design and operation of energy-efficient buildings;

(4)

Circular Economy and Carbon Reduction Strategies. The adoption of circular economy principles in the construction industry is crucial for reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency [83]. Future research should investigate innovative ways to recycle construction materials, reduce construction waste, and improve recycling rates during both material manufacturing and the construction process. Additionally, novel strategies to lower carbon emissions during material production and construction activities should be explored, alongside new sustainable manufacturing technologies that promote the use of low-carbon and renewable materials and expand initiatives like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to incentivize decarbonization;

(5)

Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Policy Development, and Market Incentives. Future research should prioritize strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration between architects, engineers, environmental scientists, and policymakers to address the evolving challenges in green building practices. Such collaboration can foster innovative solutions that integrate technological advancements with sustainable construction practices. Additionally, policy support and market incentives are critical to the widespread adoption of green building materials. Research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of existing green certification systems, identifying barriers to adoption, and developing policy frameworks that stimulate market demand. For example, the large-scale application of recycled aggregates can be accelerated through policy measures, such as the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, along with technological innovations like impurity separation technologies. Singapore’s “Zero Waste Building” initiative has increased the utilization rate of recycled aggregates through policy subsidies [102], demonstrating how Regime Adaptation (policy incentives) accelerates Niche Innovation (waste recycling technologies) to address Landscape Pressures (resource scarcity). Similarly, the cost of advanced materials like phase change materials (PCMs) can be reduced through mass production techniques, including 3D-printed customized modules. Global partnerships among governments, industries, and academic institutions can help refine these policies, create better incentives, and improve the standardization of green building practices across regions. By fostering these collaborations and refining policies, future research can drive the widespread adoption of green building materials, contributing to more sustainable construction practices worldwide;

(6)

Enhanced Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and Sustainability Metrics. To better quantify the environmental, social, and economic impacts of green construction projects, future research must focus on improving lifecycle assessment (LCA) methods and developing standardized sustainability metrics. For instance, in resource-scarce areas, priority should be given to evaluating water consumption and local material utilization rates; whereas, in developed regions, the focus should be on carbon footprint and recycling rates. The sharing of global databases, such as Ecoinvent, can help reduce data barriers and enhance data consistency. These tools will help decision-makers evaluate the full environmental impact of green building materials from production to disposal, providing data that can inform policy decisions and guide industry practices. Moreover, developing tiered sustainability standards, such as the ISO 14040 [103] framework-A/B/C to accommodate varying resource contexts, and harmonizing ISO 14040/14044 [104,105] with regional needs, such as integrating circular economy indicators into the EU’s Level(s) Framework, can further enhance global consistency in sustainability assessments.

In summary, the future of green building materials research lies in the intersection of technological innovation, sustainability, and policy development. By addressing the challenges of material performance, waste reduction, and carbon emissions and by focusing on user comfort and interdisciplinary collaboration, future research can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable construction industry, supporting the achievement of global sustainability goals.

6. Conclusions

This study offers a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of green building materials research over the past 22 years, revealing both the tremendous growth of the field and the shift in focus from foundational principles to more advanced technology-driven solutions. The findings illustrate the increasing global importance of green building materials in advancing sustainability within the construction industry, underscoring the field’s potential to address urgent environmental challenges, such as climate change, resource depletion, and energy inefficiency. By tracing key research hotspots and trends, this analysis provides critical insights into the evolving nature of green building materials research, which has expanded from general sustainability topics to increasingly specialized and action-oriented areas, including material innovation, operational performance, and carbon reduction strategies.

The study identifies key areas for future research that can further drive progress in green building materials. A critical priority is the continued development of advanced high-performance materials, such as smart composites, phase-change materials, and recycled aggregates, which are essential for improving sustainability without compromising structural integrity. Moreover, leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics presents opportunities for optimizing building design, enhancing operational efficiency, and enabling real-time performance monitoring. The integration of these technologies will be crucial in achieving energy savings, reducing resource consumption, and enhancing building performance.

A critical focus for future research lies in the adoption of circular economy principles, which are essential for reducing waste, enhancing resource efficiency, and mitigating carbon emissions in the construction industry. The development of new strategies for recycling construction materials, coupled with sustainable manufacturing practices, will be key to scaling circular economy efforts. Furthermore, the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving these innovations cannot be overstated. Collaboration among architects, engineers, environmental scientists, and policymakers will be pivotal in addressing the evolving challenges of green building practices and in refining policy frameworks and market incentives to support the widespread adoption of green building materials.

Another important area for future development is the enhancement of lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodologies and the establishment of standardized sustainability metrics. Improvements in LCA will enable more accurate quantification of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of green construction, informing the creation of more effective policy frameworks and guiding industry practices aimed at achieving global sustainability goals.

The green building materials sector stands at a pivotal juncture, where systemic transitions—not incremental advances—will define its contribution to a sustainable built environment. By foregrounding equity in innovation diffusion, rigor in lifecycle governance, and resilience in policy design, researchers and practitioners can transform this field from a niche specialty into a cornerstone of global sustainability.

However, this study relies solely on WoS and future research incorporates multiple databases to enhance the scope and comprehensiveness of the analysis. While the STT has provided a robust framework for analyzing niche-regime-landscape interactions, its application in this study reveals limitations in capturing regional disparities and context-specific barriers. Future research could integrate STT with the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) to better disentangle the interplay between local practices (niche), national policies (regime), and global sustainability agendas (landscape).