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Sustainable Advancements in Construction Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 August 2026 | Viewed by 5462

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Szymon Skibicki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Piastów 50a, 70-311 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: construction materials; 3D concrete printing (3DCP); 3D mortar printing; 3D printing; sustainable materials; FEM analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable advancements in construction materials are crucial for the entire civil engineering industry. The use of recycled materials, alternative binders, and optimization of construction processes can significantly benefit the environment. These solutions can be divided into two main categories: material issues and construction process optimization issues. The first category focuses on the modification of materials used, while the second category explores new strategies for the construction process, including automation. One promising innovation is 3D concrete (or other construcion materials) printing technology, which reduces waste, speeds up construction, and minimizes material usage.

The primary aim of this Special Issue is to (i) enhance understanding of the environmental impact of construction materials and 3D printing techniques; and (ii) contribute to knowledge on sustainable materials, alternative materials, and waste materials used in the construction industry.

Research areas may encompass, but are not limited to, the following topics: construction materials, sustainable development, recycled aggregate, alternative binders, 3D printing of cementitious materials (such as concrete and mortars), 3D printing of geopolymers, 3D printing of soft and biomaterials, additive manufacturing for electronics and metamaterials, development of new materials for 3D printing (including metals, composites, hard materials, ceramics, etc.), multi-material 3D printing, advancements in 3D printing technologies, metallization for 3D printing, 3D printing for microfabrication, numerical and finite element modeling of additive manufacturing processes, life-cycle assessment of additive manufacturing processes, environmental impact, and economic aspects of construction process (including 3D printing technology).

This Special Issue invites research papers and review articles that explore sustainable solutions for construction materials to enhance sustainability and minimize environmental impact. The papers published in this Special Issue will contribute to the body of knowledge on sustainable research in construction materials, including 3D printing technology.

Dr. Szymon Skibicki
Guest Editor

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

  • construction materials
  • sustainable development
  • recycled aggregate
  • alternative binders
  • 3D concrete printing (3DCP)
  • 3D mortar
  • 3D printing
  • additive manufacturing
  • life-cycle assessment
  • recycling

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

33 pages, 6894 KB  
Article
Valorisation of Mixed Municipal Waste Glass (EWC 20 01 02) as a Reactive Supplementary Material in Cement Mortars
by Beata Łaźniewska-Piekarczyk, Monika Czop and Elwira Zajusz-Zubek
Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020771 - 12 Jan 2026
Viewed by 405
Abstract
This study investigates the valorisation of mixed municipal waste glass (MMWG; EWC 20 01 02) as a sustainable supplementary material in cement mortars. In contrast to most existing studies, which focus almost exclusively on homogeneous container glass, this work addresses a heterogeneous waste [...] Read more.
This study investigates the valorisation of mixed municipal waste glass (MMWG; EWC 20 01 02) as a sustainable supplementary material in cement mortars. In contrast to most existing studies, which focus almost exclusively on homogeneous container glass, this work addresses a heterogeneous waste stream derived from municipal selective collection, containing flat glass, mirrors, ceramics, porcelain, and metallic residues. Such mixed household glass has not previously been systematically evaluated in cement mortars, thereby addressing a clear research gap. The MMWG was washed, dried, and ground in a Los Angeles drum with corundum abrasives to obtain a fine glass powder (FGP < 63 µm) with a median particle size of approximately 20 µm and a Blaine fineness of 360 m2/kg. Microstructural and chemical characterisation of the milled glass confirmed its highly amorphous nature and angular particle morphology resulting from grinding. In addition, coarse glass granules (0–4 mm) were used as partial replacements for natural sand in mortar mixtures. The incorporation of FGP led to a 4–12% reduction in flowability, attributable to the angular shape and increased specific surface area of the ground-glass particles. At 28 days, mortars containing 5–10% FGP exhibited mechanical properties comparable to the reference mix, while at 56 days their compressive strength increased by up to 8%, indicating delayed pozzolanic activity typical of finely milled, amorphous glass. Mortars containing coarse glass primarily reflected a filler and aggregate-replacement effect. Leaching tests conducted in accordance with PN-EN 12457-4 demonstrated that all mortars, both reference and MMWG-modified, complied with the non-hazardous waste limits defined in Council Decision 2003/33/EC. Minor exceedances of Ba and Cr relative to inert-waste thresholds were observed; however, these values remained within the permissible range for non-hazardous classification and were attributed to ceramic and metallic contaminants inherently present in the mixed glass fraction. Overall, this study demonstrates that mixed municipal waste glass—a widely available yet rarely valorised heterogeneous waste stream—can be effectively utilised as a finely ground supplementary material and as a partial aggregate replacement in cement mortars, provided that particle fineness is adequately controlled and durability-related effects are monitored. The findings extend the applicability of glass waste beyond container cullet and support the development of circular-economy solutions in construction materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Advancements in Construction Materials)
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14 pages, 2951 KB  
Article
Utilization of Sewage Sludge in the Sustainable Manufacturing of Ceramic Bricks
by Kairat Ospanov, Dariusz Andraka, Elmira Kuldeeva and Issatay Munussov
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6431; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146431 - 14 Jul 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2458
Abstract
The storage of sewage sludge in landfills is still the primary method of their disposal in many countries. Therefore, finding sustainable solutions for the reuse of this waste is an important issue to be addressed. This paper presents the results of research on [...] Read more.
The storage of sewage sludge in landfills is still the primary method of their disposal in many countries. Therefore, finding sustainable solutions for the reuse of this waste is an important issue to be addressed. This paper presents the results of research on processing sewage sludge generated at the wastewater treatment plants of Almaty, Kazakhstan, for use in the manufacturing of ceramic bricks. The chemical composition of the sewage sludge was determined, showing the presence of 35.7% silicon dioxide, 7.3% aluminum oxide, 11.2% iron oxide, and 10.6% calcium oxide. Experimental studies established that adding sewage sludge to clay reduces the compressive strength of ceramic bricks while increasing their flexural strength. Furthermore, as the proportion of sewage sludge in the clay mixture increases, the average density of the ceramic bricks decreases, while water absorption increases. It was also found that ceramic bricks made from a mixture of 90% clay and 10% sewage sludge demonstrated the best physico-mechanical properties. This composition showed increased flexural strength and a simultaneous reduction in the average density by 15.4%, indicating the improved structural quality of the manufactured bricks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Advancements in Construction Materials)
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20 pages, 3716 KB  
Article
Antimicrobial Action of Ginger and Ornamental Rock Wastes for Cement Mortar
by Romário Moreira Siqueira, Bruna Sthefanie Paz de Souza, Jonas Alexandre, Aline Chaves Intorne, Edmilson José Maria, Sergio Neves Monteiro and Afonso Rangel Garcez de Azevedo
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4698; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104698 - 20 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1777
Abstract
This study investigated the technical feasibility and antimicrobial potential of incorporating ornamental rock, limestone, and ginger waste into coating mortars with the aim of developing an innovative and sustainable solution for civil construction. This study evaluated the synergistic action of these materials on [...] Read more.
This study investigated the technical feasibility and antimicrobial potential of incorporating ornamental rock, limestone, and ginger waste into coating mortars with the aim of developing an innovative and sustainable solution for civil construction. This study evaluated the synergistic action of these materials on the microbiological and mechanical resistance of mortar, contributing to the greater durability and efficiency of the coatings. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed to characterize the morphology, chemical composition, and crystalline structure of the added materials, confirming their suitability for the cement matrix. Tests in the fresh state evaluated parameters such as density, consistency index, and entrained air content, demonstrating the viability of the formulations, whereas flexural and compressive strength tests indicated significant improvements in the mechanical performance of the modified mortar. Microbiological tests demonstrated a significant reduction in microbial colonization, indicating the action of ginger’s bioactive compounds, such as gingerol and shogaol, which have antimicrobial properties and are effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, as confirmed by the reduction in the bacterial colony count from 4 × 102 to 1 × 102 CFU mL−1. Comparisons with conventional compositions indicate that the proposed approach outperformed traditional formulations in terms of both mechanical resistance and microbiological control. Thus, the results validate this research as a promising strategy for improving the durability and performance of coating mortars, reducing maintenance costs, and promoting the sustainable use of alternative materials in civil construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Advancements in Construction Materials)
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