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Buildings
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Trends and Prospects in Sustainable Green Building Materials
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Trends and Prospects in Sustainable Green Building Materials

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2026 | Viewed by 4147

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Olga Kizinievič

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Composite Materials, Institute of Building Materials, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 08217 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: material engineering; environmental engineering; green materials; clay; biopolymers; composite materials; sustainability; waste recycling; durability
Prof. Dr. Alexander Karamanov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Physical Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 11, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: phase formation; glass-ceramic materials; waste immobilization and vitrification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to encourage potential authors to share their recent research achievements related to sustainability in civil, material, and environmental engineering. Sustainable, eco-friendly building materials are still not widely used in the construction industry. However, such materials are attracting increasing interest from researchers, engineers, architects, and designers. Sustainable green building materials are, after all, a gift from nature to humanity.

The building materials industry is under growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices that reduce its negative impact on the environment. Therefore, the use of sustainable technologies in building materials plays a crucial role in addressing environmental and economic challenges. The impact of using such materials encompasses not only the operational characteristics of building materials but also offers solutions for energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprint, conserving resources, and managing waste disposal.

This Special Issue calls for contributions that explore both theoretical and practical approaches to sustainable building materials and technologies. We encourage research that delves into the development and application of green materials, including case studies, experimental work, and new technologies that promote sustainability in construction.

For this Special Issue, both original research and review articles are welcome. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • The development and applications of sustainable green building materials;
  • Properties for the improvement of sustainable green building materials;
  • The utilization of various wastes in the development of green building materials;
  • The durability of sustainable green building materials;
  • Production technologies of sustainable, eco-friendly building materials;
  • The role of sustainable green building materials in architecture;
  • Materials that have been reused, recovered, or recycled.
  • Sustainable, eco-friendly building materials, including innovations, challenges, and future trends;
  • Economic aspects of sustainable building materials, examining their cost-effectiveness, market availability, and scalability;
  • Materials to sustain a circular economy and built environment.

Dr. Olga Kizinievič
Prof. Dr. Alexander Karamanov
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainability
  • building materials
  • recycled
  • waste
  • durability
  • life cycle assessment
  • weathering effects
  • energy efficiency
  • carbon footprint

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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22 pages, 10409 KB  
Article
Acoustic Performance and Life Cycle Assessment of a Mycelium-Based Insulation Composite Produced from Agricultural Waste
by Mantas Garnevičius, Dovydas Rutkauskas and Raimondas Grubliauskas
Buildings 2026, 16(9), 1643; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16091643 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 486
Abstract
Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have already been applied in various fields, like construction, architecture, packaging, waste management and many others, as sustainable replacement materials. The composites created from such materials are lightweight, biodegradable and can take many different geometrical shapes. As there are many [...] Read more.
Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have already been applied in various fields, like construction, architecture, packaging, waste management and many others, as sustainable replacement materials. The composites created from such materials are lightweight, biodegradable and can take many different geometrical shapes. As there are many different combinations of fungal mycelium and organic substrates, it is not only important to investigate and determine which of these combinations perform best from an acoustic perspective but also from an environmental point of view. The sound absorption qualities of these biocomposites have been investigated. It was found that the sound absorption coefficients range from 0.33 to 0.49 in the mid-high frequency range for the four different mixtures of substrate and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The results from the acoustic testing are promising, but the environmental impact of these mycelium-based composites also needs to be determined. The impacts from water and especially from energy, used during the growth and preparation cycles, are the main contributors to the environmental impact of MBCs, which is also confirmed by the relevant literature. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted, utilizing the ReCiPe method, with selected environmental impact categories, based on real-world production data and the scientific literature. The results obtained were also compared with a commercially produced acoustical stone wool panel. The influence on environmental impact of the different substrates is also analyzed, determining which MBC is the most environmentally friendly and has the best acoustical properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Sustainable Green Building Materials)
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20 pages, 4111 KB  
Article
Acoustic Characteristics of Coconut and Sugarcane Fibre Composites with Starch Binders: Effects of Fibre-to-Binder Ratio on Sound Absorption and Transmission Coefficient
by Nuushuun Archie Gboe, Robert Ružickij and Raimondas Grubliauskas
Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1631; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081631 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 419
Abstract
The use of agricultural waste fibres and natural binders is being investigated as alternatives to synthetic indoor acoustic materials. However, few studies have compared the fibre type, biopolymer type, and fibre-to-binder ratio for both sound absorption and sound transmission within a single controlled [...] Read more.
The use of agricultural waste fibres and natural binders is being investigated as alternatives to synthetic indoor acoustic materials. However, few studies have compared the fibre type, biopolymer type, and fibre-to-binder ratio for both sound absorption and sound transmission within a single controlled composite system. This study investigated the acoustic performance of sugarcane fibre (SF) and coconut fibre (CF) with a fixed thickness of 20 mm and density of 200 kg/m3, mixed with cassava, corn and potato starch binders with fibre–binder ratios from 1:1.0 to 1:0.1. Sound absorption coefficient was measured with an impedance tube, according to ISO 10534-2, and the sound transmission coefficient was determined using a four-microphone impedance tube system, according to ASTM E2611. Porosity was also tested for its relation to acoustic behaviour. The results showed that the coconut fibre composite recorded higher peak absorption, including α = 0.95 for cassava 1:0.6 to 1:0.7 and corn 1:0.6, while sugarcane fibre showed stronger transmission resistance, with SF-CAS-200-1:0.3 decreasing from τ = 0.11 at 160 Hz to 0.02 at 5000 Hz, and SF-PT-200-1:0.4 from τ = 0.10 to 0.03. The highest porosity values were 85.29%, recorded for SC-CAS-200-1:0.1, and 84.13% for CF-CAS-200-1:0.1. Overall, sugarcane fibre composites offered the best balance of absorption and low transmission, indicating strong potential for sustainable indoor acoustic panels, such as ceiling linings and wall systems. Further research should evaluate mechanical strength, fire performance, durability, and moisture resistance to support practical building applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Sustainable Green Building Materials)
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22 pages, 7059 KB  
Article
Toward Carbon-Negative Construction Materials: CO2-Storing Alkali-Activated Waste-Based Binder
by Aleksandar Nikolov, Nadia Petrova, Miryana Raykovska, Ivan Georgiev and Alexander Karamanov
Buildings 2026, 16(6), 1179; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16061179 - 17 Mar 2026
Viewed by 560
Abstract
This study examines the carbonation behavior and CO2 storage potential of a Ca-rich alkali-activated binder produced entirely from industrial residues-ladle furnace slag (LFS), coal ash (CA), and cement kiln dust (CKD). The system was designed as a one-part alkali-activated material (AAM), with [...] Read more.
This study examines the carbonation behavior and CO2 storage potential of a Ca-rich alkali-activated binder produced entirely from industrial residues-ladle furnace slag (LFS), coal ash (CA), and cement kiln dust (CKD). The system was designed as a one-part alkali-activated material (AAM), with CKD acting as an internal activator, and subjected to ambient curing, water curing, and accelerated CO2 curing at ambient pressure. Phase evolution, microstructural development, and pore-structure characteristics were investigated using X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, DSC–TG analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray micro-computed tomography, together with measurements of density, water absorption, and compressive strength. Loss-on-ignition measurements combined with chemical analysis were further used to quantify CO2 uptake and evaluate the degree of carbonation of the binder system. CO2 curing fundamentally altered the reaction pathway of the binder, shifting it from hydration-dominated to carbonation-controlled phase evolution, leading to the decomposition of calcium-bearing hydrates and complete carbonation of non-hydraulic γ-belite with the formation of vaterite, aragonite, and calcite. These transformations induced pronounced microstructural densification, reflected in a near-doubling of compressive strength (>48 MPa), increased apparent density, reduced water absorption, and simplified pore-network topology. A preliminary carbon footprint assessment indicates that the production of 1 m3 of the developed LFS–CA–CKD concrete generates about 14.36 kg CO2-eq, while the carbonation process enables significant CO2 sequestration, resulting in a net negative carbon balance. The results demonstrate that controlled carbonation is an effective post-treatment strategy for waste-derived alkali-activated binders, enabling simultaneous performance enhancement and permanent CO2 sequestration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Sustainable Green Building Materials)
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20 pages, 19583 KB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Design and Practice of Integrating Agricultural and Fishery Waste into Modern Architecture
by Xiao-Dong Wang and Shu-Chen Tsai
Buildings 2025, 15(22), 4109; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224109 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 885
Abstract
This study employs a practice-oriented research method, emphasizing practical application rather than laboratory testing, and was conducted in Pingtung County, Taiwan, from 2017 to 2023. The practical results of the five case studies demonstrate that (1) eco-friendly buildings integrating agricultural and fishery waste [...] Read more.
This study employs a practice-oriented research method, emphasizing practical application rather than laboratory testing, and was conducted in Pingtung County, Taiwan, from 2017 to 2023. The practical results of the five case studies demonstrate that (1) eco-friendly buildings integrating agricultural and fishery waste overcome the obstacles of obtaining building permits and (2) the carbon emissions of exterior walls made of pozzolana are only 44% of those of reinforced concrete. This study contributes to understanding the contemporary characteristics of sustainable buildings and provides directly applicable insights into and suggestions on how buildings can actively utilize local materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Sustainable Green Building Materials)
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17 pages, 7173 KB  
Article
Exploring the Potential of Green Clay Materials Through Sustainable Modification with Natural Polysaccharides
by Olga Kizinievič, Yahor Trambitski, Viktor Kizinievič, Violeta Voišnienė and Inga Daščioraitė
Buildings 2025, 15(11), 1870; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111870 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 1070
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of natural polysaccharides—guar gum (GG) and xanthan gum (XG)—on the properties and structure of illitic clay. Clay samples were prepared using five different GG and XG solutions, with polysaccharide concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%. The [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of natural polysaccharides—guar gum (GG) and xanthan gum (XG)—on the properties and structure of illitic clay. Clay samples were prepared using five different GG and XG solutions, with polysaccharide concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%. The physical, mechanical, and hygroscopic properties of the samples were evaluated, along with water erosion resistance and structural characteristics, using SEM analysis. The addition of GG or XG significantly increased compressive strength and water erosion resistance, reduced shrinkage, and slightly improved the bulk density compared to the control clay sample. The results showed that compressive strength increased by 28–63% and 46–84% with the incorporation of GG and XG solutions, respectively. These findings suggest that environmentally friendly clay-based building materials can be effectively produced even using small amounts of natural polysaccharides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Sustainable Green Building Materials)
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