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Sustainable Materials Research and Technology: Utilizing Waste as a Resource in the Production of a New Generation of Green Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 December 2025 | Viewed by 5076

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Farshid Pahlevani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Interests: sustainability; waste to resources; cleaner production; advance manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Smitirupa Biswal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
Interests: sustainable metallurgy; recycling of carbon-based and oxide waste materials; solid-state phase transformations; high-temperature processes.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue, entitled “Sustainable Materials Research and Technology: Utilizing Waste as a Resource in the Production of a New Generation of Green Materials” focuses on harnessing waste as a resource in the development of green materials. In the face of pressing environmental concerns, this topic gains significance by addressing the urgent need for sustainable practices in material production. By repurposing waste materials, it not only minimizes the environmental impact associated with conventional production processes, but also contributes to a circular economy. Its importance lies in the potential to reduce both emissions and energy consumption, offering innovative solutions for eco-friendly material synthesis. This approach aligns with the broader global imperative to transition towards greener alternatives, thus fostering a paradigm shift in material production that is essential for a more sustainable and resilient future. The advancements in research and technology in this domain hold the key to addressing contemporary environmental concerns and shaping a more responsible and environmentally conscious industrial landscape.

Dr. Farshid Pahlevani
Dr. Smitirupa Biswal
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. 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

  • green materials
  • wastes valorization
  • sustainable manufacturing
  • resource recovery
  • circular economy
  • waste-to-material technologies
  • sustainable chemistry

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 10339 KB  
Article
Exploring the Application Method of Bamboo Powder in Promoting the Development of Sustainable Outdoor Furniture
by Yafei Fan, Ziqian Zhu, Jiacheng Luan and Yi Liu
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 11282; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411282 - 23 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2077
Abstract
With the depletion of fossil fuels, more and more green products are appearing in daily necessities. Bamboo is a common sustainable biomaterial with the characteristics of fast growth, easy bending, low cost, and easy processing, and it is widely used in furniture design. [...] Read more.
With the depletion of fossil fuels, more and more green products are appearing in daily necessities. Bamboo is a common sustainable biomaterial with the characteristics of fast growth, easy bending, low cost, and easy processing, and it is widely used in furniture design. However, the poor aging resistance and UV resistance of natural bamboo materials limit their application in outdoor furniture. In order to improve the service life of outdoor bamboo furniture, this study prepared bamboo boards from bamboo powder and utilized them in the design of outdoor furniture. The research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, functional modification was carried out on the surface of bamboo fibers (BF). Epoxy resin and UV absorber ZnO were introduced into the bamboo powder matrix, and a three-dimensional network structure of bamboo powder-based polymer material was formed by adjusting the material ratio and reaction conditions. With the increase of ZnO content, the absorption of moisture by the bamboo powder-based polymer materials decreased. The compressive strength of 1.5%ZnO-Board reached 36.8 MPa, exceeding the compressive strength of C30 concrete. In the second stage, 1.5% ZnO-Board was selected for solidification and demolding, and used as the seat surface for outdoor chairs. Through the car crushing experiment, the chair panel did not undergo significant deformation during the car crushing process. The anti-aging experiment showed that the structure and morphology of the panel would not be damaged by long-term UV irradiation. The panel did not show any weight changes in the anti-water-absorption experiment. By using low-contrast color combinations, the seats can be organically integrated into the environmental background, effectively enhancing the coordination and unity of the overall aesthetic harmony of the space. Compared with the commonly used plastic outdoor seats, the outdoor seats prepared in this study showed a 144% increase in carbon reduction effect. This study highlights the potential of modified bamboo powder for the design of outdoor furniture, which is of great significance to reducing outdoor plastic products and promoting sustainable life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials Research and Technology: Utilizing Waste as a Resource in the Production of a New Generation of Green Materials)
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17 pages, 9009 KB  
Article
Repurposing Quality-Downgraded Fluorinated Carbon Nanotubes as Eco-Additives in Microgel Composites for Sustained Water Release
by Favour Lewechi Ezeogu, Gunendra Prasad Ojha, Promise Uzoamaka Otuokere, Mohammad Tarequl Islam, Tony Grady and Yunxiang Gao
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9468; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219468 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1933
Abstract
While significant efforts have been made to recycle metals like lithium or cobalt for sustainable development in the battery industry, the reuse of other high-value materials, such as fluorinated carbon nanotubes (FCNTs), remains underexplored. This study introduces a novel, eco-friendly method to repurpose [...] Read more.
While significant efforts have been made to recycle metals like lithium or cobalt for sustainable development in the battery industry, the reuse of other high-value materials, such as fluorinated carbon nanotubes (FCNTs), remains underexplored. This study introduces a novel, eco-friendly method to repurpose quality-downgraded FCNTs (QD-FCNTs) as effective nano-additives in polyacrylamide (PAAm) microgel composites for water retention applications. Because QD-FCNTs are rich in surface defects, by employing a mild surface treatment with a low dosage of organic electron donor N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, we enhanced the hydrophilicity of QD-FCNTs without additional energy input or a large quantity of harmful chemicals. This treatment significantly improved the interaction between QD-FCNTs and PAAm microgels, leading to a 55% increase in water retention time compared to the composites made of untreated QD-FCNTs. Our findings present a sustainable approach to extending the lifecycle of FCNTs, contributing to the circular economy and offering practical solutions for potential water management in agriculture and environmental technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials Research and Technology: Utilizing Waste as a Resource in the Production of a New Generation of Green Materials)
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Review

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26 pages, 5010 KB  
Review
From Agricultural Waste to Recyclable Biodegradable Packaging: A Systematic and Bibliometric Review
by Mei Bie, Wei Zhao, He Dong, Yinghui Gu, Shiwei Yuan and Kai Song
Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10742; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310742 - 1 Dec 2025
Viewed by 332
Abstract
Amidst the dual global pressures of plastic pollution and resource scarcity, the transition to a circular economy has become an imperative. The valorization of biomass waste from agricultural, food, and animal processing into biodegradable packaging materials presents a key strategy to address this [...] Read more.
Amidst the dual global pressures of plastic pollution and resource scarcity, the transition to a circular economy has become an imperative. The valorization of biomass waste from agricultural, food, and animal processing into biodegradable packaging materials presents a key strategy to address this challenge. This review aims to systematically construct a comprehensive knowledge framework for the field, addressing the thematic fragmentation and methodological limitations of existing literature through integrated cross-stream analysis, combined bibliometric and technological assessment, and identification of emerging research frontiers. We begin with a bibliometric analysis to delineate the field’s evolutionary trajectory since 2008, global collaboration networks, core research themes, and emerging frontiers, revealing a clear progression from environmental impact assessment to functional material innovation. Subsequently, this review delves into the complete technological chain, from the green extraction of bio-based materials from three major waste streams to the comparison of traditional and advanced film fabrication methods. We then elaborate on the critical performance evaluation dimensions, including mechanical, barrier, biodegradable, safety, and functional properties, and summarize current applications in sectors such as food and medicine. Finally, we critically assess the core challenges related to cost, performance stability, and large-scale production, and provide a systematic outlook on future research directions, particularly the development of high-performance, multifunctional, and intelligent materials. This review offers a comprehensive and data-driven reference framework for researchers and industry stakeholders in the field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials Research and Technology: Utilizing Waste as a Resource in the Production of a New Generation of Green Materials)
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