About Sugarcrete®️
Sugarcrete® provides a low-carbon alternative to bricks and concrete block work developed by the University of East London (UEL). The material combines sugarcane fibres left over after sugar production, with sand-mineral binders to produce bricks that have a carbon footprint six times smaller than traditionally made clay bricks.
This low-carbon material is just a part of the project’s ambitions. The project seeks to offer different viable, sustainable, and safe construction solutions, using bio-waste as the core resource, to enhance community well-being and security.
The project has been developed as a collaboration between the UEL MArch Architecture programme and the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) with the support of Tate & Lyle Sugars and Chemical Systems Technologies (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Project Details
The aim of the project is to develop ultra-low carbon building components using sugarcane bio-waste (bagasse), allowing the storage of biogenic carbon from fast-growing plants in construction materials as an effective strategy to delay carbon emissions.
Sugarcane is the world’s largest crop by production volume. The processing of sugarcane to produce sugar generates enough raw material to partially replace high energy-demanding construction systems such as concrete or brick. Sugarcane growth provides one of the fastest CO2-to-biomass conversion mediums available, up to 50 times more efficient than forestry.
Research developed at UEL demonstrates how this residue stream can provide a sustainable construction material. The new Sugarcrete® material, prototyped using the Sustainability Research Institute’s advanced laboratory, presents high-quality mechanical, acoustic, fire and thermal properties, and has been tested to industry standards for fire resistance (ISO 1716:2021), compressive strength (ASTM C39), thermal conductivity (Hot-Box method) and durability (BS EN 927-6). The testing has shown promising results for Sugarcrete®️ to be used as insulation panels, lightweight blocks, load-bearing blockwork and structural floor and roof slabs.
Sugarcrete® research will benefit local manufacturers in the global south where construction materials are frequently imported, environmentally poor performing, high cost and high carbon minimizes transportation costs. Local producers can make radically new, affordable and ultra-low carbon ‘vernacular’ building materials that can create new income streams via export to the global North.
As such, Sugarcrete® is not patented. It is purposely ‘open access’ in order to establish partnerships to produce new bio-waste-based construction materials where sugar cane is grown, and the benefit is greatest.
Awards And Nominations
- Built by Nature Prize: Winner 2024
- EU Worth Partnership: Winner 2024
- Earthshot Prize: Longlisted under the category of building a waste-free world 2024
- UEL Public and Community Engagement Student Awards: Winner 2023
- Edie Innovation of the Year Winner 2023
- Climate Positive Awards Green Cross UK: Winner 2023
- Earthshot Prize: Shortlisted under the category of building a waste-free world 2023
- Harvard Material Symposium: Commendation 2023
- Dezeen Sustainability Award – Material Innovation Category: Shortlisted 2023
For more information, including technical reports and contact details, please visit the project’s official website at https://uel.ac.uk/sugarcrete.