Posted on May 21, 2025June 11, 2025Categories Europe   Leave a comment on From prototype to construction site: how innovative smart materials make it out of the lab and into our cities

From prototype to construction site: how innovative smart materials make it out of the lab and into our cities

Building material made from recycled plastic waste. Rene Notenbomer/Shutterstock The construction industry accounts for approximately 37% of global CO₂ emissions. Traditional materials like cement, steel, and bricks contribute over 70% of its footprint, with cement production making up an especially large share. To confront this problem, researchers are developing all manner of innovative construction materials and mechanisms, ranging from walls that produce solar energy to self-repairing bacteria-based concrete. These smart materials, seemingly the stuff of science fiction, are fast becoming … Continue reading “From prototype to construction site: how innovative smart materials make it out of the lab and into our cities”