Project R-15188

End-of-life scenarios for earth-based building materials (Research)

Due to the high amount of embodied energy in conventional construction materials and the depletion of natural resources, there is a growing need for regenerative building materials. Materials based on unfired earth, such as earth blocks or rammed earth, are being increasingly used in practice and can significantly contribute to reducing the material footprint and CO2 emissions of the construction sector. However, additives are often added to improve the material properties. These additives not only increase the environmental impact during production but also have an impact on end-of-life processing. When further scaling up the application of earth-based building materials, there is a need to better understand the end-of-life possibilities of these materials and the associated environmental impact. In this PhD project, different end-of-life scenarios for materials based on unfired earth are investigated through theoretical research and research-by-design. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative research methods is used to not only investigate the environmental impact of possible end-of-life scenarios, but also to explore the practical relevance. A better understanding of the end-of-life scenarios and associated environmental impact of earth-based materials should help increase support for and application of these materials in the Flemish construction sector.

16 September 2024 - 15 September 2028