The construction sector is a major contributor to global environmental impacts, primarily due to the widespread use of energy-intensive cement, which significantly drives CO₂ emissions. Concurrently, industrial, agricultural, and municipal sectors generate vast quantities of waste, exacerbating environmental degradation and posing significant management challenges.

This Research Topic addresses these critical sustainability issues by exploring the innovative integration of diverse waste-derived materials as low-carbon cement alternatives or aggregates in cement-based products. Our aim is to foster a more sustainable and circular built environment.

Significant potential exists for the industrial by-products (e.g., fly ash, slag, silica fume, red mud), agricultural residues (e.g., rice husk ash, bagasse ash, palm oil fuel ash), and municipal waste (e.g., recycled glass, ceramic waste, plastic fibers) to partially replace conventional cement or aggregates. These materials can enhance the mechanical and durability performance of construction materials while significantly reducing CO₂ emissions and promoting resource efficiency.

We invite original research articles, reviews, case studies, and short communications on various aspects, including:

• Material processing and characterization of waste-derived resources.
• Mechanical and durability performance evaluations of cement-based products incorporating these materials.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and environmental impact analyses.
• Application of circular economy principles in material design and construction.
• Innovative production techniques and field implementations for low-carbon concrete.

Submissions addressing experimental work, modeling, comparative studies, novel test methods, and policy recommendations for integrating waste materials into sustainable cement-based construction are particularly encouraged. Ultimately, this Topic aims to advance the development of cost-effective, high-performance, and low-carbon construction materials that support global sustainability goals and circular economy principles.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Exploring Waste Materials as Sustainable Alternatives in Cement-Based Construction Products