Frontiers in Sustainability | Alternative Materials section | New and Recent Articles https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainability/sections/alternative-materials RSS Feed for Alternative Materials section in the Frontiers in Sustainability journal | New and Recent Articles en-us Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1 2026-05-14T16:14:27.468+00:00 60 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1695766 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1695766 <![CDATA[Sustainable electrical insulator waste management: an eco-friendly concrete development and property assessment using 3E analysis]]> 2025-11-03T00:00:00Z Original Research Ranjith R.Sekar S. K. 98% and coefficient of Variation (CV) >5% had a substantial influence on the mechanical properties of insulator concrete. The hydration mechanism of insulator concrete mix M4 increases the chemically bound water (Wb) to 3.24% as found by thermo-gravimetric analysis. Similarly, a 2.20% higher Si-O-Si bond wavenumber enhances the concrete strength as evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis. Based on the eco-friendly analysis, the maximum specific energy consumption, CO2 emission reduction, and Sustainability Index (SI) were achieved by the M4 mix at 33.58%, 31.28%, and 3.15% respectively. In light of these findings, insulator waste can be used as a cement and aggregate substitute in concrete with 36% of economic benefit.]]> https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1606205 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1606205 <![CDATA[Integrating hemp in a replicable model for affordable, low carbon housing: a zero carbon microhome prototype for the Kansas Flint Hills]]> 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z Original Research Michael D. Gibson https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1638375 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1638375 <![CDATA[Sustainable thermoplastic elastomers: valorization of waste tires, recycled HDPE, and recycled EVA]]> 2025-09-03T00:00:00Z Original Research Jose Suarez LoorMiguel Carrasco CorderoMiriam LazoEstephany AdrianAngie Mendoza LópezJoan Vera VillalobosAndrés Rigail Cedeño https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1621197 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1621197 <![CDATA[Hemp-lime as a tool for undergraduate research and teaching experiences]]> 2025-08-14T00:00:00Z Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy Daniel P. HindmanTom Hammett https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2024.1508940 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2024.1508940 <![CDATA[In-situ measurement of residential buildings with hempcrete walls: a case study]]> 2025-01-29T00:00:00Z Original Research Ali M. MemariNadia MirzaiMahsa HashemiXinrui LuCorey Gracie-GriffinHojae YiSarah Klinetob Lowe https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2024.1410986 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2024.1410986 <![CDATA[Eco-friendly bio-composite sheets: a study on the utilization of banana peels, cassava starch, and banana stem fibers]]> 2024-09-06T00:00:00Z Original Research G.K.K IsharaPabasari A KoliyabandaraGamunu Samarakoon https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2023.1169487 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2023.1169487 <![CDATA[Thermoplastic molding of silk protein composite plastic toothbrush handles with on-demand degradability]]> 2023-06-30T00:00:00Z Brief Research Report Junqi WuRodrick D. WigginsCasey H. WeaverGerard KugelDavid L. Kaplan