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Sustainable Materials: Recycled Materials Toward Smart Future
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Sustainable Materials: Recycled Materials Toward Smart Future

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 October 2025 | Viewed by 4949

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Avishek Chanda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Composite Materials and Engineering Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Interests: Lignocellulosic materials; natural fiber composites; value added products from natural wastes and byproducts for the built environment; formability of lignocellulosic materials; fire reaction properties; fire resistance in polymeric composites; timber; flammability; life cycle assessment
Dr. Swagata Dutta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Rashbrook Fire Laboratoy, Institute of Infrastructure and Environment, School of Enginneering, University of Edinburgh, Room 1.5, John Muir Building, Colin Maclaurin Road, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3DW, Scotland, UK
Interests: structural fire dynamics; fire and materials; natural fiber composites; fire modelling; timber; flammability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental impacts and resultant climate change have resulted in an ever-growing requirement of sustainable solutions in all aspects, including materials used in the built environment. This has resulted in a significant advancement in using, developing, and applying recyclable materials in various applications. The scope of the special issue lies in exploring the latest innovations and advancements in material recycling that have the potential to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability and circular economy. The articles will highlight the cutting-edge research on the recyclability of complex polymeric composites and reusability of construction materials, which have the ability to shape a sustainable future. The goal of the special issue is to ensure continuous progress in the field of recycled material systems and encourage industrial adaptation in various fields.

The primary areas of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Recyclability of polymeric materials
  • Recyclability of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites
  • Recyclability of construction materials
  • Recyclability of lignocellulosic materials and composites
  • Enhanced performance of recycled material systems
  • Dimensional stability and structural efficiency of recycled natural fiber composites
  • Life Cycle Assessment of recycled natural fiber reinforced material systems
  • New advancements in recycling different material systems in the built environment

Dr. Avishek Chanda
Dr. Swagata Dutta
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • recyclability
  • end-of-life
  • lignocellulosic materials
  • natural fiber composites
  • polymeric composites
  • construction materials
  • life cycle assessment

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3044 KiB  
Article
Re-Resinated Wood Strand Panels: Enhancing Performance Through Waste Recycling
by Avishek Chanda, Muhammad Khusairy Bin Bakri, Rajan Adhikari and Vikram Yadama
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104596 - 17 May 2025
Viewed by 356
Abstract
The construction sector’s increasing eco-consciousness is driving the need for higher-performance wood-based engineered products from underutilized timber resources, such as small-diameter trees from hazardous fuel treatments of our forests. Strand-based products, including oriented strand board (OSB) and lumber (OSL), are widely used. However, [...] Read more.
The construction sector’s increasing eco-consciousness is driving the need for higher-performance wood-based engineered products from underutilized timber resources, such as small-diameter trees from hazardous fuel treatments of our forests. Strand-based products, including oriented strand board (OSB) and lumber (OSL), are widely used. However, hot-pressing during their manufacturing generates approximately 10% waste, which includes a substantial amount of resinated strands that are landfilled. The huge potential of using strand-based products has led to many studies and growing interest in strand-based three-dimensional sandwich panels that can be used as wall, floor, or roofing panels. As the market grows, understanding the recyclability of these resinated strands becomes crucial. This study investigates the feasibility of using re-resinated waste strands that were collected during lab-scale production of strand-based panels. Results demonstrate significant improvements in dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and fire resistance. Specifically, recycling increased internal bond strength, flexural strength, time to ignition, time to flameout, mass loss, and time to peak heat release rate by 107%, 44%, 58%, 35%, 51%, and 27%, respectively, and helped decrease water absorption and thickness swell by 51% and 58%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials: Recycled Materials Toward Smart Future)
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19 pages, 6468 KiB  
Article
Research on the Sustainable Reuse of Tire Textile Waste for the Production of Thermal Insulating Mats
by Giedrius Balčiūnas, Sigitas Vėjelis, Saulius Vaitkus, Jurga Šeputytė-Jucikė, Arūnas Kremensas and Agnė Kairytė
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4288; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104288 - 8 May 2025
Viewed by 358
Abstract
Waste tire textile fiber (WTTF), a secondary product from the processing of end-of-life tires, is predominantly disposed of through incineration or landfilling—both of which present significant environmental hazards. The incineration process emits large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs) as well as harmful substances [...] Read more.
Waste tire textile fiber (WTTF), a secondary product from the processing of end-of-life tires, is predominantly disposed of through incineration or landfilling—both of which present significant environmental hazards. The incineration process emits large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs) as well as harmful substances such as dioxins and heavy metals, exacerbating air pollution and contributing to climate change. Conversely, landfilling WTTF results in long-term environmental degradation, as the synthetic fibers are non-biodegradable and can leach pollutants into the surrounding soil and water systems. These detrimental impacts emphasize the pressing need for environmentally sustainable disposal and reuse strategies. We found that 80% of WTTF was used for the production of thermal insulation mats. The other part, i.e., 20% of the raw material, used for the twining, stabilization, and improvement of the properties of the mats, consisted of recycled polyester fiber (RPES), bicomponent polyester fiber (BiPES), and hollow polyester fiber (HPES). The research shows that 80% of WTTF produces a stable filament for sustainable thermal insulating mat formation. The studies on sustainable thermal insulating mats show that the thermal conductivity of the product varies from 0.0412 W/(m∙K) to 0.0338 W/(m∙K). The tensile strength measured parallel to the direction of formation ranges from 5.60 kPa to 13.8 kPa, and, perpendicular to the direction of formation, it ranges from 7.0 kPa to 23 kPa. In addition, the fibers, as well as the finished product, were characterized by low water absorption values, which, depending on the composition, ranged from 1.5% to 4.3%. This research is practically significant because it demonstrates that WTTF can be used to produce insulating materials using non-woven technology. The obtained thermal conductivity values are comparable to those of conventional insulating materials, and the measured mechanical properties meet the requirements for insulating mats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials: Recycled Materials Toward Smart Future)
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16 pages, 2118 KiB  
Article
Waste Foundry Sand as an Alternative Material in Road Construction
by Vivian Silveira dos Santos Bardini, Luis Miguel Klinsky, Antonio Albuquerque, Luís Andrade Pais and Fabiana Alves Fiore
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2370; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062370 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1206
Abstract
The generation of solid waste and the use of non-renewable natural resources in the foundry industry are environmental challenges that require the search for solutions that guarantee the application of circular economy and cleaner production principles. Studies on the reuse of Foundry Sand [...] Read more.
The generation of solid waste and the use of non-renewable natural resources in the foundry industry are environmental challenges that require the search for solutions that guarantee the application of circular economy and cleaner production principles. Studies on the reuse of Foundry Sand Waste (FSW) generated in this process can guarantee the minimization of the current environmental impact and contribute to the achievement of sustainability in the industrial sector. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of utilizing WFS in the construction of pavement bases and sub-bases, in combination with sandy soil and hydrated lime. The laboratory experimental program included the evaluation of compaction characteristics, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), compressive strength, and resilient modulus. The results indicate that the addition of 25% and 50% WFS yields predicted performance levels ranging from good to excellent. The inclusion of hydrated lime enables the mixtures to be employed in sub-bases and bases, while the increased WFS content further enhances load-bearing capacity by up to 60% and 75% for 25% and 50% WFS, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials: Recycled Materials Toward Smart Future)
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Review

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31 pages, 9687 KiB  
Review
Feasibility of Recovering and Recycling Polymer Composites from End-of-Life Marine Renewable Energy Structures: A Review
by Muthu Elen, Vishal Kumar and Leonard S. Fifield
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10515; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310515 - 30 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2037
Abstract
Over the last few decades, several marine renewable energy (MRE) technologies, such as wave energy converters (WECs) and current energy converters (CECs), have been developed. As opposed to traditional materials such as metal alloys, the structure of these technologies is made up of [...] Read more.
Over the last few decades, several marine renewable energy (MRE) technologies, such as wave energy converters (WECs) and current energy converters (CECs), have been developed. As opposed to traditional materials such as metal alloys, the structure of these technologies is made up of polymer and polymer composite materials. Most structures have been made using thermoset polymer composites; however, since thermoset polymer composites are not recyclable and lack sustainability, and with recent innovations in recyclable resins, bio-based resins, and the development of additive manufacturing technologies, thermoplastic polymers are increasingly being used. Nevertheless, the methodologies for identifying end-of-life options and recovering these polymer composites, as well as the recycling and reuse processes for MRE structures, are not well-studied. Specifically, since these MRE structures are subjected to salinity, moisture, varying temperature, biofouling, and corrosion effects depending on their usage, the recyclability after seawater aging and degradation needs to be explored. Hence, this review provides an in-depth review of polymer composites used in marine applications, the hygrothermal aging studies conducted so far to understand the degradation of these materials, and the reuse and recycling methodologies for end-of-life MRE structures, with a particular emphasis on sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials: Recycled Materials Toward Smart Future)
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Other

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34 pages, 4965 KiB  
Systematic Review
Carbon Footprint Variability in Engineered Wood Products for Timber Buildings: A Systematic Review of Carbon Accounting Methodologies
by Yi Qian, Tharaka Gunawardena, Priyan Mendis and Lu Aye
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 4804; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114804 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
Engineered wood products (EWPs) and timber buildings are increasingly recognised for their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by storing biogenic carbon and replacing emission-intensive materials. This article systematically evaluates the carbon footprint (CF) of EWPs and timber buildings during the production stage [...] Read more.
Engineered wood products (EWPs) and timber buildings are increasingly recognised for their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by storing biogenic carbon and replacing emission-intensive materials. This article systematically evaluates the carbon footprint (CF) of EWPs and timber buildings during the production stage (A1–A3), identifies key sources of variability, and extracts quantitative emission reduction metrics. Based on a review of 63 peer-reviewed studies, CF values vary widely, from −40 to 1050 kg CO2eq m−2 for buildings and 12 to 759 kg CO2eq m−3 for EWPs, due to inconsistent system boundaries, functional units, and emission factor assumptions. Median CFs were 165.5 kg CO2eq m−2 and 169.3 kg CO2eq m−3, respectively. Raw material extraction (50.7%), manufacturing (37.1%), and transport (12.2%) were the dominant contributors. A mitigation matrix was developed, showing potential reductions: 20% via transport optimisation, 24–28% through low-density timber, 76% from renewable energy, 11% via sawmill efficiency, 75% through air drying, and up to 92% with reclaimed timber. The geographic skew toward Europe and North America underscores the need for region-specific data. The findings provide actionable benchmarks and strategies to support carbon accounting, emissions modelling, and climate policy for more sustainable construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials: Recycled Materials Toward Smart Future)
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