Sustainable Construction: Integrating Recycled and Waste Materials into Solutions
A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 232
Special Issue Editors
Interests: sustainable construction materials; life cycle assessment; waste concrete powder; industrial by-products; alkaline activation; ultra-high performance concrete; high-strength concrete; durability; recycled waste materials
Interests: sustainable construction materials; sound-absorbable concrete; waste concrete powder; ultra-high performance concrete; high-strength concrete; durability; material design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: sustainable construction materials; cement microstructure; thermodynamic modeling; durability, recycled waste materials; bio-concrete; biomineralization; machine learning; deep learning; prediction models
Interests: sustainable cementitious materials; cement chemistry; cement microstructure; thermodynamic modeling; machine learning
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The construction sector is experiencing a profound transformation due to the need to reduce environmental impacts, conserve natural resources, and promote circular economy principles. Integrating recycled and waste materials into construction systems provides a sustainable way to achieve these objectives while maintaining structural performance and cost-effectiveness.
This Special Issue, “Sustainable Construction: Integrating Recycled and Waste Materials into Solutions”, seeks to present recent research, innovative practices, and technological advancements in the utilization of recycled and waste-based materials for sustainable construction. The aim is to provide an inclusive platform for sharing new ideas, identifying challenges, and proposing solutions for developing environmentally friendly construction materials and systems.
We welcome original research articles, case studies, and review papers that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
Recycled and waste-derived materials: innovative use of industrial by-products, demolition debris, waste plastics, glass, metals, fly ash, and agricultural residues in construction composites.
Circular economy and sustainability assessment: life cycle analysis, embodied carbon reduction, and resource efficiency strategies supporting circular construction practices.
Mechanical and durability performance: influence of recycled constituents on strength development, long-term durability, and microstructural evolution of cementitious and alternative binders.
Advanced processing and technologies: optimized mix design, carbonation and alkali activation, 3D printing, digital fabrication, and hybrid material systems enhancing sustainability and functionality.
Applications, standards, and policy implications: field implementation, performance validation, standardization efforts, and policy frameworks enabling large-scale adoption.
Multifunctional and smart materials: developments enabling self-sensing, thermal regulation, pollutant capture, and other added functionalities using recycled or waste materials.
Through this Special Issue, we seek to enhance cooperation between academics, engineers, and industry experts to advance the transition towards sustainable and resource-efficient construction. By emphasizing both scientific advancements and practical applications, this collection envisions advancing the integration of recycled and waste materials as viable solutions for the future of construction.
Dr. Oinam Yanchen
Dr. Sukhoon Pyo
Dr. Minwuye Mesfin Woldeamanuel
Dr. Aron Berhanu Degefa
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
- eco-efficient
- sustainable construction materials
- life cycle assessment
- waste concrete powder
- industrial by-products
- high-performance concrete
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