Against the backdrop of global advocacy for sustainable development, the construction industry, as a “big player” in resource consumption and carbon emissions, is facing unprecedented challenges. Traditional construction relies heavily on non-renewable natural materials, and every step of the process, from extraction to processing to use, puts enormous pressure on the environment. As demand for construction continues to grow in areas such as infrastructure, housing, healthcare and education, the question of how to meet these needs without depleting natural resources has become a pressing one. Recycling programs, while effective, are a drop in the bucket for the construction industry’s massive resource consumption and environmental impact. In this dilemma, innovative sustainable building materials have emerged, and sugarcane concrete is one of the best.
Turning waste into treasure: the unique benefits of sugarcane concrete
Sugarcane, one of the world’s most productive crops, produces large quantities of bagasse after being processed into sugar. Once considered a waste product, bagasse is now taking on a new life. Studies have shown that bagasse can provide enough raw material for building materials to partially replace energy-intensive building systems such as concrete or bricks. Sugarcane is fast growing and provides an extremely efficient CO2-to-biomass conversion medium, 50 times more efficient than forestry, meaning that it can absorb large amounts of CO2 as it grows, which can have a positive effect on mitigating the greenhouse effect.
The University of East London (UEL) in the UK has done remarkable research in the field of sugarcane concrete. The Sugarcrete® material they have developed was prototyped using the Institute for Sustainable Development’s advanced laboratories and put through a series of rigorous tests. From fire resistance (ISO 1716:2021), compressive strength (ASTM C39), thermal conductivity (thermo-axial method) to durability (BS EN 927 – 6), Sugarcrete® excelled. Tests have shown that the material has a wide range of applications as insulated panels, lightweight blocks, load-bearing blocks and structural floor and roof panels.
Sugarcrete® is unique not only because of its performance, but also because it is “open access” and not patented. This initiative is designed to create a wide range of partnerships to accelerate the material’s global diffusion and adoption.
Taking root: the first large-scale practice of sugarcane concrete
India, the world’s leading producer of sugarcane, with 400 million tons of cane produced annually, is rich in biomass. It is here that Sugarcrete® found its first large-scale application – in the construction of a school.
The school, located in India’s sugar-producing region, is the result of a collaboration between UEL’s Master of Architecture program and SRI, with support from Chemical Systems Technologies (India) Pvt. Ltd (CST). The project has demonstrated the immense potential of circular economy principles in combating climate change. Sugarcane concrete combines a sugarcane by-product (bagasse) with a sand mineral binder to make blocks with a carbon footprint six times smaller than traditional clay bricks, making them a low-carbon alternative to traditional bricks and concrete blocks.
The freestanding school building is not only a place of education, but also a large-scale testing ground for sugarcane concrete technology. It provides an excellent platform for testing the constructability, operational performance and environmental benefits of Sugarcrete®. Located in a sugar-producing region, the school will be constructed from locally sourced materials, reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation process. At the same time, the school will serve as a skills development center for local students, working to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions to local construction needs, and is even expected to create income-generating opportunities by exporting environmentally friendly materials to the northern hemisphere.
Alan Chandler, the material’s co-creator and project leader, says the project has taught them valuable lessons about how Sugarcrete® can help communities transition to sustainable building practices. Although there have been some challenges in implementing the project, such as ensuring the availability of materials and skills needed for some of the lime-based renderings, with the joint efforts of the local partners, they are making great strides towards their goal of revolutionizing architecture and making low-carbon alternatives accessible and practical.
The school, designed by UEL students in partnership with the Delhi School of Architecture and Planning, is currently in the monitoring phase, focusing on evaluating the materials’ insulation, damp-proofing and acoustic properties. These properties are vital for an educational environment to ensure that students learn in a comfortable environment and improve their learning outcomes.
The Sugarcrete® team is encouraged by the success of the school project. They are now working with the Paryatan Foundation, a non-governmental organization in Hisar, India, on plans to build a community center using the material. Meanwhile, they are expanding their reach, setting their sights on other sugar-producing regions such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Kenya and Mexico. In Costa Rica, the material is being considered for construction in tropical forests, providing a sustainable alternative in areas where carbon-intensive materials are limited. In addition, Sugarcrete® will be displayed in prototype form at the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, USA, further demonstrating its versatility and global appeal to the world.
Sugarcrete®’s excellence has also been highly recognized by the industry with accolades such as the Climate Positive Award and the Natural Building Award, as well as nominations for the Fight for the Planet Award and other prestigious awards. These accolades not only recognize Sugarcrete®, but also serve as an inspiration to the entire field of sustainable construction.
Conclusion
The advent of sugarcane concrete has brought new hope to the sustainable building industry. It has shown us that agricultural by-products can be transformed into cutting-edge building materials, providing a viable solution to environmental issues in the construction industry. With the continuous improvement of the technology and the expansion of the scope of application, we believe that sugarcane concrete will play an increasingly important role in the future construction field, creating a greener, low-carbon and sustainable future for us. Let us all look forward to the construction industry realizing a magnificent turnaround from the traditional energy-consuming mode to a green and sustainable mode with the help of innovative materials such as sugarcane concrete.
