Eco Bricks and Sustainability: A Scientific Perspective on Waste-Based Materials

Main Article Content

Jimuel Ereno
Cayanan Jason Emannuel L
Santiago Nancy M
Ereño Jimuel Y
Somera Kiel Angelo
Javier Vienndarell A
Tan Jerome DJ

Abstract

This study investigates the development of sustainable construction materials by transforming waste streams into eco-friendly bricks. Utilizing discarded plastics, agricultural byproducts, and industrial residues, these innovative building blocks demonstrate comparable or enhanced structural performance relative to conventional bricks while addressing pressing environmental concerns. The research evaluates various production methodologies, material compositions, and performance characteristics, revealing significant reductions in carbon emissions and resource consumption through waste valorization. Although technical challenges persist regarding quality consistency and large-scale implementation, the findings underscore the dual environmental and socioeconomic benefits of this approach, particularly for affordable housing solutions. The analysis advocates for continued technological refinement, standardized evaluation protocols, and policy frameworks to facilitate broader industry adoption of these sustainable alternatives in construction practices.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

Ereno, J., Emannuel L, C. J., Nancy M, S., Jimuel Y, E., Kiel Angelo, S., Vienndarell A, J., & Jerome DJ, T. (2026). Eco Bricks and Sustainability: A Scientific Perspective on Waste-Based Materials. Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.17352/acms.000005
Review Articles

Copyright (c) 2026 Ereno J, et al.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Licensing and protecting the author rights is the central aim and core of the publishing business. Peertechz dedicates itself in making it easier for people to share and build upon the work of others while maintaining consistency with the rules of copyright. Peertechz licensing terms are formulated to facilitate reuse of the manuscripts published in journals to take maximum advantage of Open Access publication and for the purpose of disseminating knowledge.

We support 'libre' open access, which defines Open Access in true terms as free of charge online access along with usage rights. The usage rights are granted through the use of specific Creative Commons license.

Peertechz accomplice with- [CC BY 4.0]

Explanation

'CC' stands for Creative Commons license. 'BY' symbolizes that users have provided attribution to the creator that the published manuscripts can be used or shared. This license allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to the author.

Please take in notification that Creative Commons user licenses are non-revocable. We recommend authors to check if their funding body requires a specific license.

With this license, the authors are allowed that after publishing with Peertechz, they can share their research by posting a free draft copy of their article to any repository or website.
'CC BY' license observance:

License Name

Permission to read and download

Permission to display in a repository

Permission to translate

Commercial uses of manuscript

CC BY 4.0

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

The authors please note that Creative Commons license is focused on making creative works available for discovery and reuse. Creative Commons licenses provide an alternative to standard copyrights, allowing authors to specify ways that their works can be used without having to grant permission for each individual request. Others who want to reserve all of their rights under copyright law should not use CC licenses.

Gazi AS, Seikh Z, Sekh M. Transforming plastic waste into eco-friendly bricks: A sustainable approach to high-density polyethylene recycling. In: 2nd National Conference on Recent Advancements in Manufacturing Technology & Management (RAMTM-II 2025); 2025. Available from: ResearchGate

Munoz Guzman AD, Trotta Munno MG. Design of a brick with sound absorption properties based on plastic waste & sawdust. IEEE Access. 2015;3:1260-1271. Available from: doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2015.2461536.

Adiyanto O, Mohamad E, Jaafar R, Faishal M. Life cycle assessment of eco-brick production using PET particle reinforced epoxy resin composites. Multidiscip Sci J. 2023;5(3):2023023. doi: [DOI not provided].

Habib A, Begum MR, Salam MA. Effect of stone dust on the mechanical properties of adobe brick. 2015;2(9). Available from: ResearchGate

Arya R, Kansal R. Utilization of waste papers to produce ecofriendly bricks. Int J Sci Res. 2016;5(7):92-96. Available from: doi:10.21275/ART2016792.

Mohamad Nidzam R, Norsalisma I, Kinuthia JM. Strength and environmental evaluation of stabilised clay-PFA eco-friendly bricks. Constr Build Mater. 2016;125:964-973. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.08.114.

Zhang X, Biswas WK. Development of eco-efficient bricks - a life cycle assessment approach. J Build Eng. 2021;42:102429. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102429.

Arredondo-Orozco C, et al. A novel energy-efficient machine to compress inorganic residues in eco-bricks as a sustainable construction strategy for low-cost housing. In: 2019 14th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI); 2019. Available from: doi:10.23919/CISTI.2019.8760797.

Ahammed MA, Shahriar MM, Asif M, Sibly AW, Hassan MM, Zawed A. A comprehensive evaluation of environment-friendly eco-bricks as sustainable structural element. 2024. Available from: doi:10.2139/ssrn.4988743.

Chavarry-Vallejos CM, et al. Use of mining tailings in the manufacture of ecological bricks to encourage the construction of sustainable housing. Int J Membr Sci Technol. 2023;10(3):2555-2567. Available from: doi:10.15379/ijmst.v10i3.1997.

Aneke FI, Shabangu C. Green-efficient masonry bricks produced from scrap plastic waste and foundry sand. Case Stud Constr Mater. 2021;14:e00515. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00515.

Mirasa AK, Chong CS. The construction of green building using interlocking brick system. In: [Book title not provided]. Springer; 2019. p.35-49. Available from: doi:10.1007/978-981-13-7260-5_4.

López-Aguilar HA, Huerta-Reynoso EA, Gómez JA, Duarte-Moller JA, Pérez-Hernández A. Life cycle assessment of a traditional brick manufacture improvement. Rev Int Contam Ambient. 2019;35(1):195-206. Available from: doi:10.20937/RICA.2019.35.01.14.

Asman NSA, Bolong N, Mirasa AK, Asrah H, Saad I. Interlocking compressed earth bricks as low carbon footprint building material. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2020;476:012086. Available from: doi:10.1088/1755-1315/476/1/012086.

Oke JA, Abuel-Naga H. Durability assessment of eco-friendly bricks containing lime kiln dust and tire rubber waste using mercury intrusion porosimetry. Appl Sci. 2024;14(12):5131. Available from: doi:10.3390/app14125131.

Kazmi SMS, Munir MJ, Patnaikuni I, Wu YF, Fawad U. Thermal performance enhancement of eco-friendly bricks incorporating agro-wastes. Energy Build. 2018;158:1117-1129. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.10.056.

Awoyera PO, Adesina A. Plastic wastes to construction products: Status, limitations and future perspective. Case Stud Constr Mater. 2020;12:e00330. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.cscm.2020.e00330.

Jalaluddin M. Use of plastic waste in civil constructions and innovative decorative material (eco-friendly). MOJ Civ Eng. 2017;3(5). Available from: MOJ Civil Engineering

Adiyanto O, Farid FM, Hopid A. Assessing the optimal compressive strength of eco-friendly bricks using full factorial design. Sustain Eng Innov. 2024;6(1):119-130. Available from: doi:10.37868/sei.v6i1.id286.

Quiday R. The use of eco-bricks as an alternative building block for Philippine budget houses. Academia.edu. 2019. Available from: Academia.edu

Al-Tarbi SM, Baghabra Al-Amoudi OS, Al-Osta MA, Al-Awsh WA, Ali MR, Maslehuddin M. Development of eco-friendly hollow concrete blocks in the field using wasted high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and crumb tire rubber. J Mater Res Technol. 2022;21. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.10.027.

El-Metwally Y, Dewidar K, Ismail MR, El-Mahallawi I. Optimization of plastic waste integration in cement bricks. J Eng Appl Sci. 2023;70(1). Available from: doi:10.1186/s44147-023-00229-1.

Adiyanto O, Farid FM, Hopid A. Assessing the optimal compressive strength of eco-friendly bricks using full factorial design. Sustain Eng Innov. 2024;6(1):119-130. Available from: doi:10.37868/sei.v6i1.id286.

Divya M, et al. A review paper on eco-bricks. Int J Adv Eng Manag. 2008;9001:1369. Available from: IJAEM

Olumodeji AO, Ayodele FO, Oluborode KD. Evaluation of compressive strength and abrasive properties of rice husk ash-cement compressed stabilized earth bricks. Niger J Technol. 2023;42(2):191-198. Available from: doi:10.4314/njt.v42i2.5.

Minh LT, Tram NXT. Utilization of rice husk ash as partial replacement with cement for production of concrete brick. MATEC Web Conf. 2017;97:01121. Available from: doi:10.1051/matecconf/20179701121.

Dominguez D, Muñoz VP, Muñoz VL. Impact of using lightweight ecobricks as enclosures for individual houses of one story on zones of high seismicity. Mater Constr. 2017;67(328):133. Available from: doi:10.3989/mc.2017.03316.

Abera YA. Sustainable building materials: A comprehensive study on eco-friendly alternatives for construction. Compos Adv Mater. 2024;33. Available from: doi:10.1177/26349833241255957.

Cavaco E, Grilo I, Gouveia JP, Júlio E, Neves L. Mechanical performance of eco-efficient hollow clay bricks incorporating industrial nano-crystalline aluminium sludge. Eur J Environ Civ Eng. 2020;24(12):1921-1938. Available from: doi:10.1080/19648189.2018.1492974.

Sundaramurthy S, et al. Performance evaluation of environmentally sustainable precast cement concrete paver blocks using fly ash and polypropylene fibre. [Journal details not provided].

Vatani Oskouei A, Afzali M, Madadipour M. Experimental investigation on mud bricks reinforced with natural additives under compressive and tensile tests. Constr Build Mater. 2017;142:137-147. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.03.065.

Sodupe-Ortega E, Fraile-Garcia E, Ferreiro-Cabello J, Sanz-Garcia A. Evaluation of crumb rubber as aggregate for automated manufacturing of rubberized long hollow blocks and bricks. Constr Build Mater. 2016;106:305-316. Available from:doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.131.

Delcasse MM, R V, A C, P MK. Papercrete bricks: An alternative sustainable building material. Int J Eng Res Appl. 2017;7(3):9-14. Available from: doi:10.9790/9622-0703060914.

Calatan G, Hegyi A, Dico C, Mircea C. Experimental research on the recyclability of the clay material used in the fabrication of adobe bricks type masonry units. Procedia Eng. 2017;181:363-369. Available from:doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2017.02.402.

Olutoge FA, Booth CA, Olawale SOA, Alebiosu OA. Lateritic cement- and lime-stabilised bricks and blocks for affordable housing. Proc Inst Civ Eng Constr Mater. 2018;171(5):195-202. Available from: doi:10.1680/jcoma.16.00062.

Lanante FD, Lloyd C, Bacunawa GC, Agnes M, Espinazo JA, Suliva LB. Performance and properties of eco-friendly cement bricks added with polyester fabric wastes. J BIMP-EAGA Reg Dev. 2022;7(1):1-9. Available from: doi:10.51200/jbimpeagard.v7i1.3690.

Jha AK, Kewate SP. Manufacturing of eco bricks: A sustainable solution for construction. Eng Proc. 2024. Available from: doi:10.3390/engproc2024066028.

Asman A. Environmental impact evaluation on interlocking compressed earth brick using life cycle assessment. Int J Geomate. 2023;25(111). Available from: doi:10.21660/2023.111.3525.

Leonard L. Assessment of lime and cement stabilized soil bricks for low cost housing. Academia.edu. 2017 May 23. Available from: Academia.edu

Taha Y, Benzaazoua M, Hakkou R, Mansori M. Coal mine wastes recycling for coal recovery and eco-friendly bricks production. Miner Eng. 2017;107:123-138. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2016.09.001.

Sankar SJ, Prasad TV, Nishila. Effectiveness of cement and lime in earth bricks for building construction. Int J Sci Res Sci Technol. 2016;2(6):379-383. Available from: IJSRST

Jaramillo HY, Gómez Camperos JA, Guevara W. Elaboration of an ecobrick for construction with improved physical and mechanical properties. J Phys Conf Ser. 2021;2046(1):012049. Available from: doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2046/1/012049.

Zia M, et al. Circular economy enabler: Enhancing high-performance bricks through geopolymerization of plastic waste. E3S Web Conf. 2023;430:01202. Available from: doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202343001202.

Bredenoord J, Kulshreshtha Y. Compressed stabilized earthen blocks and their use in low-cost social housing. Sustainability. 2023;15(6):5295. Available from: doi:10.3390/su15065295.

Koç SG, Maçka Kalfa S. Eco-bricks in the framework of the integration of the concept of eco-design into architecture. In: 10th International Conference on New Trends in Architecture and Interior Design; 2024. Available from: ResearchGate