Lifecycle Assessment of Building Materials, Components, and Techniques: Tools for Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

The building industry has long been rooted in traditional practices [1]. Conventional building materials and construction methodologies often conflict with optimal environmental solutions. As climate change concerns intensify, governmental bodies worldwide are implementing stringent sustainability regulations across all sectors [2]. One critical measure in the construction industry is reducing the environmental impact of building materials [3]. Given the vast quantities of materials used in construction projects, identifying and adopting sustainable alternatives is essential for a more environmentally responsible future [4]. However, despite these pressing concerns, the building sector remains resistant to change, relying heavily on resource-intensive materials with significant environmental footprints [5].

For stakeholders in construction projects, ensuring the long-term performance and durability of new materials and technologies is just as crucial as their sustainability. This necessitates the rigorous evaluation of both innovative and traditional materials to verify their environmental impact and technical feasibility.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has emerged as the benchmark methodology for assessing environmental impacts across various industries, including construction. LCA provides valuable insights into a material's behavior throughout its life cycle, from raw material extraction and production to its service life, disposal, and beyond. It also plays a crucial role in developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which facilitate transparency and comparability in sustainability assessments.

This Special Issue aims at showcasing the latest advancements in sustainable building materials and techniques, with a strong emphasis on LCA methodologies. The goal is to highlight innovative materials that can replace conventional options while maintaining, or even exceeding, current performance standards. Additionally, this collection seeks to promote the integration of LCA into material development and decision-making processes in the construction industry.

We invite contributions from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers specializing in LCA studies of building materials. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Comparative LCA studies of new and conventional building materials;
• Integration of LCA and performance assessments for materials and construction methods;
• Case studies and real-world applications of LCA in the building industry;
• Methodological advancements in LCA for construction materials;
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) integration with LCA for sustainability assessment.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to this Special Issue and to advancing the discussion on sustainable building materials through rigorous LCA research.

References

[1]   Katebi A., Homami P., and Najmeddin M.; Acceptance model of precast concrete components in building construction based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) framework. J. Build. Eng. 2022, 45, 103518, doi: 10.1016/J.JOBE.2021.103518.

[2]   Lützkendorf T.; LCA of building materials within the framework of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) in Europe. ce/pap. 2022, 5, 43–47, doi: 10.1002/CEPA.1878.

[3]   Michalak J. and Michałowski B.; Understanding Sustainability of Construction Products: Answers from Investors, Contractors, and Sellers of Building Materials. Sustainability 2022, 14, 3042, doi: 10.3390/SU14053042.

[4]   González-Vallejo P., Marrero M., and J. Solís-Guzmán; The ecological footprint of dwelling construction in Spain. Ecol. Indic. 2015, 52, 75–84, doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.11.016.

[5]   Rodríguez G., Medina C., Alegre F. J., Asensio E., and De Sánchez Rojas M. I., Assessment of Construction and Demolition Waste plant management in Spain: In pursuit of sustainability and eco-efficiency. J. Clean Prod. 2015, 90, 16–24, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.11.067.

Dr. Alberto Quintana Gallardo
Dr. Vanesa Celina Sáez
Guest Editors

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• environmental life cycle assessment
• comparative LCA
• sustainable building materials
• sustainable construction
• environmental product declarations (EPDs)