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Ultra Processed Construction Materials are convenient, and have thus become ubiquitous.
Ultra-Processed Construction Materials (UPCMs) are materials used in construction that have undergone several industrial processes, often involving multiple stages of extraction, chemical modification, transportation and products originating from every corner of the world. In many cases these products become composite materials. These materials have become a cornerstone of modern construction due to their scalability, predictability, and durability. However, the ubiquitous use of UPCMs has also raised significant environmental, economic, and social concerns.[1]
UPCMs are construction materials that are repeatedly processed before being utilised. Each processing stage adds to the material’s ecological footprint particularly in terms of energy consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions. These effects add up and compound, to make the UPCMs more costly and wasteful yet. With each step, their carbon footprints difficult to quantify and trace. UPCMs are distinct from Raw Building Materials (RBMs) in that they require substantial intervention and transformation from their natural state. The production of these materials often involves:
A copper mine. Copper is used to treat lumber - which is often (wrongly) thought of as a natural material. Mining or quarrying of raw resources like clay, sand, ores, limestone and other minerals.
Crushing and grinding to break down materials into usable forms.
Bricks: Clay bricks undergo quarrying, shaping, and firing in kilns, a process that releases carbon gases and other emissions. For a typical house, the use of bricks can contribute significantly to the total carbon footprint.
Brick kilns in the Indian subcontinent are huge emitters of CO2e gasses and carbon particulates.[2]Concrete: Composed of cement, sand, and gravel, concrete requires significant energy for production, especially in the manufacture of cement, one of the highest carbon-emitting processes globally.
Lumber (treated): Once a natural material, lumber is typically highly processed before use to prevent damage from insects, moisture and even fire. due to chemical treatments for durability (e.g., Copper Chrome Arsenate) and industrial-scale harvesting, making it a UPCM.
Construction waste is difficult to regulate. It's often fly-tipped in forests and in rivers. Waste Generation: The multiple stages of UPCM production generate large amounts of waste, at every step - from the original mines, the refining sites, transportation, manufacturing sites and at the end of the building's life. Much of this waste is non-recyclable or challenging to dispose of, further contributing to environmental degradation.
Resource Depletion: UPCMs rely on finite natural resources including rare earths, ores, plant-based materials and fossil minerals like coal or limestone, often extracted in ways that damage ecosystems and disrupt local communities.
Beyond their environmental costs, UPCMs have profound economic and social impacts:
Inflation and Housing Costs: The reliance on UPCMs contributes to inflation in construction costs, driving up the price of housing. The energy and labor-intensive processes involved in creating UPCMs make them expensive to produce and transport, exacerbating affordability issues in the housing market.
Energy Dependency: The production of UPCMs requires a steady supply of energy, often derived from non-renewable sources such as coal and natural gas. This dependency not only increases the carbon footprint but also makes construction vulnerable to fluctuations in global energy prices.
A traditional Raw Building Material home leaved little behind at the end of its life.
In contrast to UPCMs, Raw Building Materials (RBMs) including minerals like adobe and stone, and fibres like bamboo, and straw are minimally processed. These materials were historically used to build homes within vernacular traditions from antiquity or from traditional cultures around the world, with little environmental impact. RBMs typically require less energy for extraction and are often locally sourced, reducing transportation emissions. When a building made from RBMs reaches the end of its life, these materials return to the earth, leaving behind little or no lasting damage.[4][5]
While modern alternatives like straw bale, CSEB or earthbag construction can reduce the environmental footprint, they remain labor-intensive and are not yet scalable to the same extent as UPCMs, making their adoption in mainstream construction challenging.
In response to the environmental challenges posed by UPCMs, there is increasing interest in developing low-carbon UPCMs. These include materials that incorporate recycled content, such as fly ash in concrete or reclaimed materials like old tires. Some projects have shown promise by upcycling waste into usable construction materials, but these methods are often expensive and difficult to scale. Additionally, these materials still require considerable processing, which can introduce the so-called green premium, making them more costly than traditional UPCMs. As it stands, Earthbuilt. is just one company that is offering a scalable, inexpensive RBM solution that's appropriate for modern homes.
The environmental, economic, and social costs of UPCMs make them a critical issue in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation. As construction continues to grow, particularly in urbanising areas, the reliance on UPCMs will only intensify unless there is a concerted effort to adopt sustainable alternatives. The need to transition from UPCMs to more eco-friendly, minimally processed materials is urgent if we are to mitigate the adverse effects of construction on the environment and create a more sustainable built environment for future generations.
Ultra-Processed Construction Materials are a double-edged sword: while they offer the scalability and strength required for modern construction, their environmental impact is undeniable. As the world searches for more sustainable ways to build, a shift away from UPCMs and toward Raw Building Materials and low-carbon alternatives will be essential in reducing the environmental and economic costs associated with construction.
^van Lengen, Johan (2008). The Barefoot Architect. California: Shelter Publications. ISBN139780936070421. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
^Elizabeth, L and Adams, C (2000). Alternative Construction: Contemporary Natural Building Methods. Canada: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN0-471-24951-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
