As cities grow and more buildings go up, the construction industry is facing two major challenges: heavy carbon emissions from materials like cement and the growing piles of waste sent to landfills.
Now, scientists in Japan have developed an innovative solution that tackles both problems at once. They’ve created a strong, eco-friendly building material using recycled glass and leftover construction waste.
The research team, led by Professor Shinya Inazumi from the Shibaura Institute of Technology, has developed a geopolymer-based soil solidifier that could replace traditional cement in many construction projects.
This new material is made from two types of waste: Siding Cut Powder (SCP), a byproduct from construction sites, and earth silica (ES), which comes from recycled glass.
By combining these two materials and treating them at high temperatures, the researchers created a solidifier that is strong enough to meet—and even exceed—industry standards.
Unlike Ordinary Portland Cement, which is widely used but contributes significantly to global carbon emissions, the new geopolymer solidifier offers a cleaner alternative.
Portland cement production is responsible for about 7–8% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.
By replacing it with this low-carbon alternative, the construction industry can take a big step toward greener practices.
At the same time, this technology helps keep waste out of landfills by turning it into something valuable.
The treated SCP and ES mixture showed excellent performance in lab tests, reaching soil strength levels well above the 160 kN/m² needed for construction. It also performed well under harsh conditions like freezing, salt exposure, and sulfate attack, making it suitable for tough environments.
Environmental safety was a key focus of the study. During testing, the team found that recycled glass in the mix could cause arsenic to leak out of the solidifier.
But they quickly solved this problem by adding calcium hydroxide, which neutralizes the arsenic and locks it safely into the material.
This new building material has many practical uses. It can be used to stabilize weak soil under roads, buildings, and bridges, especially in areas with soft or clay-heavy ground.
It’s also a promising option for disaster-prone regions, where quick and reliable ground reinforcement is often needed.
In rural or developing areas, the solidifier could be used to make soil blocks for homes, offering a low-carbon alternative to concrete or fired bricks.
Professor Inazumi hopes the new technology will help shift the construction industry toward more sustainable practices.
By using everyday waste to build stronger, greener infrastructure, this innovation could help reduce environmental damage while meeting the world’s growing demand for safe, stable buildings.
Source: KSR.
