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British Researchers May Have Found a Simple and Efficient Solution to Make Construction More Eco-Friendly. Instead of Relying on Cement, One of the Sector’s Biggest Environmental Villains, a New Technique Uses Recycled Glass in Compressed Earth Blocks. The Result Surprised: Stronger, More Sustainable Blocks with Less Environmental Impact.
Compressed earth blocks, reinforced with recycled glass and lime, may represent the future of sustainable construction. Researchers at the University of Portsmouth in the UK found that this mixture increases block strength by up to 90%, reducing the need for cement—a major carbon emitter in the industry.
Testing with Glass and Lime Reveals the Ideal Formula
The team from the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying at the university conducted various tests with compressed earth blocks.
This type of block is made from subsoil, sand, non-expansive clay, and other aggregates.
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Unlike traditional bricks, they are not fired in a kiln: they harden naturally, either by air curing or with water.
To increase the strength of the blocks, cement is usually added. However, the environmental impact of this practice is high. With this in mind, researchers tested an alternative solution: incorporating recycled glass powder into the block mixture.
The combinations varied, with different proportions of recycled glass particles (RWGP) between 0% and 25%. The tests also included the addition of lime, in search of the ideal stabilization formula.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali, a composition with 10% lime and 10% recycled glass powder showed the best performance. “It produced the strongest blocks, with no cracks under intense pressure,” he stated.
Stronger “Green” Blocks with No Cracks
The results were impressive. The blocks stabilized with recycled glass and lime achieved 5.77 MPa (megapascals) of compressive strength, nearly double that of unstabilized blocks, which only reached 3.03 MPa after 28 days.
Tensile strength was also superior: 0.52 MPa versus 0.40 MPa in traditional blocks. The “green” blocks also demonstrated better performance in other mechanical tests, such as water absorption and integrity under pressure.
Additionally, researchers examined the blocks with an electron microscope. The mixture of 10% lime with 10% recycled glass powder showed no visible cracks even after 28 days, reinforcing its high structural integrity.
An Alternative to Cement with Less Environmental Impact
The research points to a promising solution. With superior structural performance and the use of recycled materials, glass blocks could help significantly reduce cement use in construction. This substitution has the potential to lower carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable sector.
The initiative also aligns with the circular economy, which aims to reduce the need for new materials and repurpose industrial waste. The use of recycled glass as a basic input for construction is a clear example of this approach.
“There is a growing demand for the use of recycled industrial waste as sustainable building materials,” emphasized Dr. Ali.
Similar Initiatives Are Emerging in Japan
While the British team advances with glass-reinforced earth blocks, researchers in Japan are also presenting similar solutions.
A new soil stabilizer made from geopolymer was developed using two types of waste: coating cut powder (SCP) and earth silica (ES), the latter derived from recycled glass.
Like the studies at the University of Portsmouth, the Japanese proposal aims to reduce dependence on cement and transform construction waste into useful resources.
Conclusion: A More Eco-Friendly Construction on the Horizon
Recent discoveries show that recycled glass can play a central role in transforming construction. Compressed earth blocks, when reinforced with glass powder and lime, show significant performance improvements while providing a more eco-friendly alternative to conventional cement.
The study was published in the journal Discover Civil Engineering and could mark an important advancement in the search for more sustainable constructions, with less environmental impact and greater utilization of discarded materials.
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