A new building material composed of earth, water and cardboard waste, which completely dispenses with cement; that’s the news. It is a solution that would reduce carbon emissions by up to 75% compared to traditional building systems. It is a development by researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, a public research university located in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The method uses cardboard formwork to compact the walls directly on site, which not only reduces costs but also simplifies logistics, a crucial advantage especially in remote areas. Under the leadership of Dr Jiaming Ma, the team quantified how cardboard thickness influences structural strength and designed a solution adaptable to locally available materials, ideal for hot climates and rural environments.
In addition to its minimal environmental footprint, the high thermal inertia of the earth contributes to greater energy efficiency in buildings. This proposal, aligned with global decarbonisation goals, has already attracted interest from industry and social housing organisations. Its structural viability, documented in an academic study, makes it a feasible and sustainable option for emergency situations, reconstruction and innovative construction projects.
By Alberto López, senior structural engineer in the Architecture Department at Amusement Logic
