Low-impact Materials Research Articles

Exploring factors influencing smart tourism destination visiting behaviors in a historic country: a theory of e-consumption behavior

PurposeThis study aims to explore factors that influence tourists’ visiting behaviors towards smart tourism destinations (STDs) by extending the theory of planned behavior.Design/methodology/approachPartial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique is used to test the proposed hypotheses by analyzing 413 usable responses that are collected through personal interviews. Moreover, data are collected using structured interviews and analyzed by SmartPLS, 3.3.3.FindingsThis study results reveal that STD visit intentions significantly influence STD visiting behaviors among international and domestic tourists in Bangladesh. Moreover, the results show that e-attitude, resource efficiency norms and perceived environmental sustainability have significant impacts on STD visit intentions.Practical implicationsThe study findings indicate that destinations’ electronic flowcharts of places, usage of low impact and biodegradable materials and history and culture presented in the forms of games and stories increase travelers’ motivation to visit STDs.Originality/valueThe study provides empirical evidence to support the importance of factors enhancing travelers’ STD visiting behaviors by integrating e-attitude, resource efficiency norms, perceived environmental sustainability and STD visit intentions.

The GREENART Project: Environmentally Friendly and Low Impact Materials for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage

ABSTRACT While some green solutions and advanced materials have been proposed in recent decades to improve on traditional conservation processes, conservation practice still uses petroleum-based compounds and procedures that lack time- or energy-efficiency, and are not sustainable. Tackling these issues, the GREENART project (GREen ENdeavor in Art ResToration, Horizon Europe, 2022–2025) is developing green and sustainable systems for the remedial and preventive conservation of works of art, following a ‘safe and sustainable by design’ approach where green components are firstly screened and then used to formulate new materials. This contribution reviews traditional and state-of-the-art materials used in protective coatings, foams and packaging materials, consolidants, cleaning systems, and monitoring tools, and introduces the novel solutions the GREENART project is developing for each of these classes. Some of the new products are already being assessed, and the main processes in the formulation of the solutions are outlined. Life cycle assessment will be carried out before the commercial production of the new systems to demonstrate their full sustainability. Finally, perspectives are discussed, highlighting the role of GREENART in promoting a green transition for cultural heritage preservation.

Evaluating the environmental performance of 45 real-life wooden buildings: A comprehensive analysis of low-impact construction practices

Buildings are responsible for 37 % of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Subsequently, stakeholders in this sector have introduced different strategies to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. One strategy focuses on increasing the use of wood in buildings as a low-impact material with the potential to act as a carbon sink. Although research shows a tendency towards lower GHG emissions from wood structures compared to conventional constructions, the existing literature is typically challenged by methodological inconsistencies and only assesses a limited number of building projects at a time. As a result, uncertainties are introduced about comparisons between them, how their background and modeling assumptions may vary, as well as the integrity of the assessed solutions. Hence, this study analyses 45 cases of buildings applying the same methodology to enable a comprehensive understanding of the environmental performance of wooden buildings, identifying common trends, challenges, and best practices. This study finds that the embodied impacts contribute highly to the environmental impact and thus remain essential to consider. However, there is a very weak correlation between the quantities of wood used in the buildings and the environmental impact for wooden buildings, but a strong correlation between the quantities of insulation, plastics, composites, and POCP, ODP, ODP and EP, respectively. Therefore, the use of these materials should be optimized to further reduce the environmental impact of wood buildings.

ADOBE BRICKS TO HOLLOW SANDCRETE BLOCK WALLING IN TROPICAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION: MATERIAL IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE INDOOR THERMAL COMFORT ATTAINMENT

Introduction: Tropical climate is characterized by high temperature, the consequence of which induces indoor thermal discomfort. This is attributed to high solar gains through various elements of the building envelope, including windows, walls, and roof among others. However, in an attempt to optimize indoor thermal comfort with minimal or no recourse to mechanical installations, this study explores the roles of the walling fabrics by comparing varying thermo-physical properties of two identified masonry units in the study area of Ogbomoso, Nigeria (adobe bricks and hollow sandcrete blocks), with a view to identifying a more thermally comfortable and sustainable material option. The methodology involves virtual models of two similar residential buildings each composed of either adobe bricks or sandcrete blocks, as masonry units. These models were subjected to energy performance simulation analyses using DesignBuilder software, over a 12‑month cycle period, to experience year-round differential thermal conditions. Through the observed comparative annual heat loads as experienced in the models, the results show improved indoor thermal comfort in the brick building (i.e., 7119.54 KWh), with heat loads being 11% lower than that of the sandcrete building (i.e., 8875.65 KWh) due to the brick walling fabric. This may be associated with the brick’s lower thermal conductivity (U-Value) of 1.798 W/m2-K, compared with the sandcrete blocks’ value of 1.999 W/m2-K. Results: In general, adobe bricks as a walling unit exhibit more thermal resistance against the harsh outdoor weather conditions than sandcrete blocks. The study is part of an ongoing effort towards reviving this partially neglected low impact material — adobe brick — with a view to attaining sustainable indoor thermal comfort as well as protect the environment in the study area.

Bibliometric Analysis of Bio- and Earth-Based Building Materials: Current and Future Trends

The energy and environmental transition in the building sector requires the development and use of low-impact materials. Despite the growing interest in bio-based and earth-based building materials, their widespread adoption is still limited due to a lack of hindsight, as their study is relatively recent. This study aims to contribute to the development of these materials by providing an extensive overview of key contributors (authors, countries, journals) in these fields. Then, the keywords of the corresponding publications were analyzed to reveal the main topics covered to date. First, a broad scale is presented, followed by a focus on sub-categories, specifically raw materials for bio-based building materials and implementation techniques for earth-based ones. Finally, a comparative analysis, with the themes covered by composite construction materials as a whole, completes the study. Using statistical analysis coupled with bibliometric network visualization software, this study provides clear, quantifiable, and objective insights into current trends. Furthermore, it facilitates the identification of new, promising research perspectives and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Physics, modeling, durability and microstructure studies emerge as relevant levers for advancing the future development of these eco-friendly building materials.

Durability of unstabilized rammed earth in temperate climates: A long term study

This paper describes a 16-year study on the weathering behavior of unstabilized rammed earth constructed in the temperate climate of the Northeastern United States with an average annual precipitation of 1,174 mm. A freestanding experimental rammed earth wall utilizing natural clay binders was constructed on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005 to evaluate its durability over time. The research documents the erosion of the 450 mm thick wall and identifies the environmental factors responsible for the observed deterioration. While erosion levels are highly dependent on localized environmental factors, results show that regions of the test wall with high levels of environmental exposure have an erosion rate of 3.5 mm/year, regions with medium exposure have an erosion rate of 1.5 mm/year, and regions with low exposure have an erosion rate of 0.5 mm/year. The estimated lifespan of the freestanding unstabilized rammed earth wall with minimal protection from natural climatic conditions in a temperate climate is between 37 and 75 years before repairs are required to preserve structural integrity. This lifespan is comparable to the typical service life of structures in North America built with more carbon-intensive materials such as concrete. The results presented, which are specific to the minimally protected test wall, can be considered conservative. Historic structures provide ample evidence that when adequately protected, unstabilized rammed earth can last nearly indefinitely, suggesting that this low impact material could be used to replace more carbon intensive construction materials with significant environmental benefits.

A low environmental impact admixture for the elaboration of unfired clay building bricks

Large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) are emitted to the atmosphere during the traditional burning brick process, taking part in the construction industry affectations. This paper presents an alternative way that faces environmental issues by using low-Impact materials in construction; for this purpose, it is proposed the formulation of an admixture for the fabrication of unfired clay bricks. Three different clay-base formulations were developed to analyze their behavior underwater, plasticity, and drying time to determinate the best one to get an unfired brick. The sample with the better performance underwater was tested to water absorption and compressive strength tests. Results show that it is possible to obtain an unfired clay-based material utilizing low environmental impact admixtures to elaborate construction bricks. Finally, a Life Cycle Analysis assessment was conducted to determine CO2 emissions when utilizing the propossed formulation.

Enhancing the performance and mechanical stability of 2D-based hybrid micro-supercapacitors using dendritic-gold as framework layer

In recent years scaling-down approaches on supercapacitors has led to the definition of Micro-Supercapacitors (μSC). The demand for these devices is increasing for many applications in microelectronics, such as wearable energy storage and self-powered sensors. Recently, many efforts have been made to achieve good results in terms of power and energy densities. However, the current research challenge is to develop a sustainable chain production, involving eco-friendly materials, such as water-based electrolytes, organic binders and low-impact active material. This work presents a hybrid μSC using low impact materials and a fully water-based solution. Different approaches were adopted for patterning the current collectors and for the deposition of the active materials. The material chosen as anode was MnO2 deposited by electroplating, which presents pseudocapacitive behavior. The active material used for the cathode was Activated Carbon (AC), deposited by drop-casting, which works through the electric double layer (EDL) capacitance effect. The electrolyte was 1 M Na2SO4 in water. We investigated the addition of an interlayer micro-structure made of Dendritic-Gold (D-Gold). The results show that such a layer seems to have positive effects in terms of wettability and mechanical stability, enhancing the adhesion of the active material. Electron microscopy measurement shows the characteristic tree-like shape of the layer. The device reports a capacitance of about 14 to 23 mF cm-2 and a large voltage window equal to 1.6 V. The present research explores, for the first time, the effects of dendritic gold in planar electrochemical capacitors. The findings should give an important contribution for boost energy storage densities in the field of 2D micro-supercapacitors.

An Investigation and Benchmarking Model for Developing Sustainable Material Use Among Turkish Airport Operators

Sustainable material use refers to the capacity of a material to be utilized in a way that does not deplete the Earth’s natural resources or harm the ecosystem. This lowering might entail employing renewable or recyclable materials and reducing the overall quantity of material utilized in airport services. Renewable materials, recyclable materials, biodegradable materials, reusable materials, low-impact materials (low-emission materials), natural materials, and non-toxic materials are sustainable materials used in airports. There are 58 civil airports operated in Turkiye. The public information on the airport operators’ websites can assess sustainable material use in these airports. Mentioned 58 airports are operated under ten different airport groups. This study offered a novel scoring system called CACS which stands for Clarity, Accessibility, Continuity, and Suitability, to retrieve sustainable material use from sustainability reports of airport operators. The model proposed in this paper will help the readers benchmark a group of airports not present in the literature. The results show that İGA airport is the highest score among the ten airports, followed by TAV airports at 820.6 and 256.3, respectively. The top five airports encapsulate 97.44% after the Normalization of passenger counts of Turkiye. Airport operators’ sustainable material usage and other sustainability benchmarking on numerous domains based on sustainability reporting systems would draw the public and increase awareness, allowing operator firms and airport authorities to concentrate on creating a more livable future.

Advances in Applications of Cereal Crop Residues in Green Concrete Technology for Environmental Sustainability: A Review

Concrete is mainly employed as a construction material. Due to the manufacturing of cement and the extent of concrete usage, numerous environmental issues and water suction have presented challenges. There is an immediate need to overcome these problematic issues by substituting natural resources with wastes and by-products of different biological processes in the production of concrete in order to make green concrete. Green concrete provides a relatively low-impact material to satisfy potential concrete demand and offers a cheaper, robust and highly reliable alternative that could fulfil future construction requirements in an environmentally safer way. The present review highlights the possible use of waste residues of agricultural origin from cereal farming in concrete as alternative materials to cement, fine aggregate and fiber reinforcement. The review also considers appropriate methods of treatment, the selection of residual resources and the blending ratios that may allow the development of next-generation green concrete with better physicochemical and mechanical properties. It also explores in-depth studies and the wider range of innovations in cereal farming residues for appropriate use in green construction for environmental sustainability. Green concrete could be an alternative material that could replace those used in conventional methods of construction and help make a further step towards environmental sustainability and a circular bioeconomy.

Quantifying baseline costs and cataloging potential optimization strategies for kelp aquaculture carbon dioxide removal

To keep global surface warming below 1.5°C by 2100, the portfolio of cost-effective CDR technologies must expand. To evaluate the potential of macroalgae CDR, we developed a kelp aquaculture bio-techno-economic model in which large quantities of kelp would be farmed at an offshore site, transported to a deep water “sink site”, and then deposited below the sequestration horizon (1,000 m). We estimated the costs and associated emissions of nursery production, permitting, farm construction, ocean cultivation, biomass transport, and Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) for a 1,000 acre (405 ha) “baseline” project located in the Gulf of Maine, USA. The baseline kelp CDR model applies current systems of kelp cultivation to deep water (100 m) exposed sites using best available modeling methods. We calculated the levelized unit costs of CO2eq sequestration (LCOC; $ tCO2eq-1). Under baseline assumptions, LCOC was $17,048 tCO2eq-1. Despite annually sequestering 628 tCO2eq within kelp biomass at the sink site, the project was only able to net 244 C credits (tCO2eq) each year, a true sequestration “additionality” rate (AR) of 39% (i.e., the ratio of net C credits produced to gross C sequestered within kelp biomass). As a result of optimizing 18 key parameters for which we identified a range within the literature, LCOC fell to $1,257 tCO2eq-1 and AR increased to 91%, demonstrating that substantial cost reductions could be achieved through process improvement and decarbonization of production supply chains. Kelp CDR may be limited by high production costs and energy intensive operations, as well as MRV uncertainty. To resolve these challenges, R&D must (1) de-risk farm designs that maximize lease space, (2) automate the seeding and harvest processes, (3) leverage selective breeding to increase yields, (4) assess the cost-benefit of gametophyte nursery culture as both a platform for selective breeding and driver of operating cost reductions, (5) decarbonize equipment supply chains, energy usage, and ocean cultivation by sourcing electricity from renewables and employing low GHG impact materials with long lifespans, and (6) develop low-cost and accurate MRV techniques for ocean-based CDR.

Principles of biological design as a model for biodesign and biofabrication in architecture

Biomaterials represent a potential means for the construction industry to reduce its negative ecological impact. These materials require substantially different approaches from conventional construction materials to maximise their potential. In this paper we have outlined four principles of biological design that we argue are central for the successful implementation of a new construction paradigm through biodesign. These principles are: Diversity, complexity and specificity (of form), durability through resilience, and feedback and adaptation. Diversity of material is necessary to maintain the sustainability of biomaterials when scaled up to construction industry volumes. Complexity and specificity of form enable high performativity of the built environments when using low-impact materials. Durability through resilience allows designers to work with materials that would otherwise be considered too weak. Finally, feedback and adaptation are core principles of biological design that allow plants and animals to constantly evolve in response to changing conditions, across multiple time scales, and to manage design in complex systems. In conclusion we have argued that many of these principles are found in vernacular architectural traditions, but that emerging design and fabrication technologies can enable broader implementation that can combine the benefits of modern and vernacular buildings practice.

Biesterfeld Plastic GmbH awarded ISCC PLUS certification

International plastics and additives distributor Biesterfeld Plastic has officially been awarded ISCC PLUS certification. This is reported to be a voluntary commitment by the Biesterfeld Group, affirming it wants to promote the development of low-impact materials and contribute to a sustainable plastics industry.

Mapping the environmental aspect of kernel product system in complex supply chains of the West Africa cashew industry.

Global supply chains (GoSCs) have become common for industries. However, relatively little research has emphasized products' complex supply chain environmental assessments. Against this background, this paper maps key environmental issues in the GoSCs of the West Africa cashew industry. The initial-oriented green design and supply chain-wide assessment of the kernel product system was conducted through an eco-design approach based on the matrix method, life cycle design strategy wheel and analytical hierarchical process. The results reveal static/technical eco-design issues that can reduce negative environmental impacts. Additionally, it highlights the strategic opportunities for redesign related to the selection of low-impact materials and gaseous emission. The main issues that arise in mapping the complex supply chains such as the need to re-examine some environmental issues such as solid and liquid residues from production and processing stages as more strategic concerns are discussed. In conclusion, the study points out that it is important not to compromise supply chain-wide assessment of environmental impacts and to understand both technical and strategic values of environmental issues in complex supply chains of products even at the initial stage of interest in green supply chain design. Thus, the eco-design approach of the study has potential to enhance environmental sustainability.

Assessing the potentials of low impact materials for low energy housing provision in Nigeria

Assessing the potentials of low impact materials for low energy housing provision in Nigeria

Sustainable Reduction of the Odor Impact of Painting Wooden Products for Interior Design

The construction and building field represents a key sector for the recent Circular Economy Action Plan (March 2020). Therefore, the production of low impact materials represents an essential step towards the implementation of a sustainable market. In this regard, the present paper focused on the production of painting wooden products for interior design. These industrial processes include an essential phase consisting of the reduction of odor emissions, which produce negative impacts on the environment and a persistent annoyance for the population close to the facilities. The main cause of the odor emissions in wood painting manufacturing is the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this context, the present research aimed to develop an innovative process able to combine the use of lower impact paints with a more efficient UV system for the abatement of the emissions.

Alkali-Activated Binders From Waste Incinerator Bottom Ashes and Metakaolin Reinforced by Recycled Carbon Fiber Composites

In view of creating low-impact materials for the building industry, the fostering of alkali-activated binder gains high importance. Metakaolin can successfully be activated with alkalis at room temperature but the contemporary use of wastes to create mixed binders can further increase the derived environmental benefits. Bottom ashes deriving from the incineration of municipal solid wastes have been tentatively mixed in different amounts to develop matrix with acceptable mechanical properties, still to be cured at room temperature. Moreover, scraps deriving from the production of epoxy/carbon fibre composites are employed as a reinforcing phase. No chemical or physical treatments have been used to modify the epoxy/carbon fibre wastes, apart from size reduction, thus minimizing the overall economic and energy impact of the process. The workability, physical and mechanical properties, microstructure and porosity of the obtained materials are investigated. Up to a 50 weight % amount of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ashes can be mixed with metakaolin. Fibres still embedded in the epoxy matrix disclose a fair interaction with the matrix thus managing to increase flexural strength, toughness and dimensional stability without decreasing the compressive strength.

Resilient and Environmentally Efficient Residential Buildings - Assessment Method and Interim Outcomes

Historically, the fire-safety orders restricted the use of majority of the nature-based low impact materials in town buildings. Houses therefore became rigid and resilient. Today, we need to return to those materials, but the tradition and public opinion are preventing changes in building habits. This paper describes the work done within a research project, which aims to define a resilient and low impact residential building. The main goal of the research is a development of an assessment method that evaluates the building’s ability to withstand or easily overcome most important threats which may occur in the Central European area. The research team’s objective was to identify the risks, define the crisis scenarios and to provide an exemplary solution that will ensure the necessary resilience of a model building. The method includes environmental criteria with benchmarks set up to fulfil the requirements of the Paris Agreement. This leads the building design towards the low-impact materials and technologies and towards resilience at the same time. The research team developed an assessment method including 20 criteria. A set of buildings has been evaluated and favourable technical solutions have been developed. Based on the results, a design of a model building was carried out. New equipment and technologies were implemented: removable green facade, natural ventilation with solar chimneys, or a hybrid control system managing renewable sources in the building. The next step should be a test of the technology or the overall design in real conditions. The project outcomes show the possibility of reaching a sufficiently solid and robust design of a low-rise apartment building while following a sustainable design approach at the same time.

Design guidelines for circular building components based on LCA and MFA: The case of the Circular Kitchen

Introduction. The building sector consumes 40% of resources globally, produces 40% of global waste and 33% of all emissions. The transition towards a Circular Economy (CE) in the built environment is vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as responsible consumption and production. The built environment can gradually be made circular by replacing the current ‘linear’ building components with circular ones during maintenance and renovation. However, there are many possible design alternatives for circular building components; knowledge on which variants perform best – from an environmental perspective – is lacking. Methods. In this article, we develop environmental design guidelines for circular building components. First, we synthesize design variants for an exemplary circular building component: the Circular Kitchen (CIK). Second, we compare the environmental performance of these variants and a ‘business-as-usual’ variant by applying a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Finally, from the results, we derive design guidelines. Results. We synthesized four design variants: (1) a kitchen made from bio-based, biodegradable materials, (2) a kitchen made from re-used materials, (3) a kitchen which optimises lifespans and materials, and (4) a modular kitchen in which components (with varying lifespans) are re-used by the manufacturer. From the LCA and MFA, we derived 7 design guidelines, which include: consider building components as a composite of sub-components, parts and materials with different and multiple use-, and life-cycles; match the materialisation of each part with the expected life cycle (merely substituting for re-used or low-impact materials does not provide the most circular design); facilitate various loops (e.g., repair, re-use, recycling) simultaneously. Conclusions. The presented design guidelines can support industry in developing circular building components and, through implementation of these components, support the creation of a circular built environment. Grant Support. This research received funding from the EIT Climate-KIC and AMS-institute.

Estimating dynamic climate change effects of material use in buildings—Timing, uncertainty, and emission sources

Material use in buildings affects the climate over centuries, however, temporal aspects are often ignored in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Results too often promise uncontested precision of impacts occurring far into the future. Additionally, the validity of building LCAs is being questioned over inadequate scope and inventory.A dynamic LCA method for material use in buildings that addresses those concerns is presented, along with a case study of 20 buildings. In particular, a novel solution to account for delayed emissions is presented, along with future technological improvements. Climate change effects of material use in construction, operation, and end-of-life phases are estimated, from production, transport, construction-waste incineration, biogenic carbon-sequestration, and cement carbonation. Building subpart metrics reveal drivers of impacts and are used for generating statistical emission profiles.Application on a bottom-up harmonized dataset produces statistical results for building types (typology, timber/concrete) and building subparts (building elements, material categories). Global warming policy targets requires that the building industry focuses on interventions with short-term effects, such as low-impact materials in the construction phase and reduced construction waste.Uncertainty is estimated, and parameter influence assessed with global sensitivity analysis. Time horizon (TH), building lifetime, and construction waste parameters are found most sensitive. The method reduces uncertainty of postulated future impacts; an important step in the direction of policy-relevant modeling. We recommend that building LCA modeling practice adopts the presented methodological concepts to gain trust and policy-relevance.