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The valorization of Excavated Earth (ExE) in concrete production represents a significant opportunity for sustainable construction while aligning with circular economy principles. This review paper explores strategies to reduce Portland cement content in construction materials by incorporating natural fibers, and earthen materials, creating low-carbon, high-performance building products. Natural fibers, such as Miscanthus, Bamboo, and Coconut, offer renewable, CO₂-sequestering solutions. However, they require physical, chemical, or thermal treatments to address challenges such as water absorption and sugar leaching, enhancing their compatibility with concrete matrices. The present review extensively discusses the transition from conventional ordinary Portland cement concrete binders’s formulations to alternatives like bio-based fibers for low-carbon concrete using supplementary cementitious materials SCMs. The review also attempts to explore the importance of the biochemical composition of natural fibers on the performance of bio-based concrete systems. The treatment methods that enhance the behavior and lifetime of fibers are also discussed. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is emphasized as a critical tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of these matrices, optimizing CO₂ fixation, and assessing the recycling potential of end-of-life materials using representative indexes, mostly regarding Global Warming Potential (GWP). Critical questions include: Considering the objective of minimizing CO₂ emissions and the significant environmental impact revealed by life cycle assessment (LCA) for thermal treatments such as calcination for (SCMs) and heat processing for natural fibers, are there alternative methods that can achieve comparable performance with a lower carbon footprint? Research in this domain remains limited, and the review identifies significant gaps. It underscores the role of initiatives like the RECYBEX-3B project supported financially by the Ile-de-France (IdF) region and TRACTEBEL-ENGIE company, which aims to recycle excavated sludge into bio-fiber-reinforced concrete blocks. Finally, the findings propose actionable pathways to advance low-carbon construction technologies, fostering a balance between environmental sustainability and material performance.

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Towards Sustainable Construction: A Comprehensive Review of Earth Materials and Bio-Fiber Composites for Low-Carbon Building Materials Design

  • 会议论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Somaya Riffi,
  • Franziska Schmidt,
  • Elhem Ghorbel,
  • Filippo Cuccagna,
  • Michela Di Feo

摘要

The valorization of Excavated Earth (ExE) in concrete production represents a significant opportunity for sustainable construction while aligning with circular economy principles. This review paper explores strategies to reduce Portland cement content in construction materials by incorporating natural fibers, and earthen materials, creating low-carbon, high-performance building products. Natural fibers, such as Miscanthus, Bamboo, and Coconut, offer renewable, CO₂-sequestering solutions. However, they require physical, chemical, or thermal treatments to address challenges such as water absorption and sugar leaching, enhancing their compatibility with concrete matrices. The present review extensively discusses the transition from conventional ordinary Portland cement concrete binders’s formulations to alternatives like bio-based fibers for low-carbon concrete using supplementary cementitious materials SCMs. The review also attempts to explore the importance of the biochemical composition of natural fibers on the performance of bio-based concrete systems. The treatment methods that enhance the behavior and lifetime of fibers are also discussed. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is emphasized as a critical tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of these matrices, optimizing CO₂ fixation, and assessing the recycling potential of end-of-life materials using representative indexes, mostly regarding Global Warming Potential (GWP). Critical questions include: Considering the objective of minimizing CO₂ emissions and the significant environmental impact revealed by life cycle assessment (LCA) for thermal treatments such as calcination for (SCMs) and heat processing for natural fibers, are there alternative methods that can achieve comparable performance with a lower carbon footprint? Research in this domain remains limited, and the review identifies significant gaps. It underscores the role of initiatives like the RECYBEX-3B project supported financially by the Ile-de-France (IdF) region and TRACTEBEL-ENGIE company, which aims to recycle excavated sludge into bio-fiber-reinforced concrete blocks. Finally, the findings propose actionable pathways to advance low-carbon construction technologies, fostering a balance between environmental sustainability and material performance.