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Sugarcrete turns sugarcane waste into eco-friendly building blocks for a new generation of construction
At Panchsheel Inter College in Uttar Pradesh, a new school wing has just been inaugurated. What stands out is not only the design, but the material used. Instead of traditional concrete or bricks, the construction was made with Sugarcrete blocks, an innovative material created from sugarcane bagasse.
Sugarcrete was developed by researchers at the University of East London (UEL), who saw sugarcane waste as an opportunity to transform the construction industry. The material combines bagasse, sand and mineral binders to create lightweight, fire-resistant blocks with good thermal and acoustic insulation.
Sugarcrete: less carbon and more accessibility
The project was born at the UEL Sustainability Research Institute, led by Alan Chandler and Armour Gutierrez Rivas. According to the team, laboratory tests show that Sugarcrete emits six times less carbon than common bricks and twenty times less than concrete.
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With just 30% of the world’s bagasse production, it would be possible to replace the entire traditional brick industry and save up to 1,08 billion tonnes of CO₂, say the researchers.
Another unique feature of Sugarcrete is its open access. Without patents, it can be produced by anyone with the right ingredients and basic tools, benefiting local communities.
First real project with sugarcane-based material
The material has already begun to be tested on a large scale. In partnership with the Indian company Chemical Systems Technologies (CST), the UEL team has set up the first local Sugarcrete production unit.
Architects from Grimshaw also collaborated, creating interlocking blocks that allow structures to be built without mortar.
The new school wing in Uttar Pradesh is the first real large-scale project using the material. For Alan Chandler, the experience offers valuable lessons about the transition to sustainable building practices.
Challenges and tests in real conditions
Despite the initial success, challenges remain. The team highlights the need to ensure the availability of materials and to develop local skills, such as the application of lime plasters. The resilience of Sugarcrete is also being tested.
While laboratory tests have shown good results in fire resistance, compression and insulation, the real test will be how the material performs over the years in the face of heavy rain, extreme heat and natural wear and tear.
A Global Future for Sugarcrete
India, which produces about 400 million tons of sugarcane per year, has abundant raw material to expand the use of Sugarcrete. And the potential goes beyond that. The entire world generates almost two billion tons of sugarcane, resulting in 600 million tons of bagasse.
Currently, this waste is often burned or discarded. With Sugarcrete, it can be given a new purpose, helping to build solid and sustainable structures.
The new wing of Panchsheel Inter College shows that it is possible to transform waste into innovative material and that construction can enter a new era.
With information from ZME Science.
