A research team in Melbourne has developed a structural building material that matches cement’s strength using only soil, water, and discarded cardboard, offering a radical alternative to one of the world’s largest sources of CO2 emissions.The invention, known as cardboard-confined rammed earth (CCRE), updates an antiquated method to possibly reduce the environmental harm caused by energy-intensive cement production and limestone mining.
How Can Soil and Cardboard Possibly Replace Cement?
The breakthrough from RMIT University’s engineering lab is not merely a theoretical proposal but a tested construction method. Researchers have modernised the ancient rammed-earth method by using recycled cardboard tubes for moulding and reinforcement.
- The Process: These cardboard tubes feature solid, multilayer walls created using locally sourced dirt and water.
- The Curing: Once set, the composite forms a load-bearing wall, as cardboard confinement delivers vital tensile strength missing in raw earth material.
- The Result:Once set, the composite becomes a load-bearing wall, with cardboard confinement supplying vital tensile strength that raw earth lacks it.
This method directly tackles the 8% of global CO2 emissions attributed to cement manufacturing and the landscape scarring from limestone quarrying.
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Does It Actually Perform as Well as Traditional Materials?
Peer-reviewed lab findings, published in the journal Structures, confirm the material’s strong competitive performance. The data offers the “Information Gain” beyond generic sustainable building concepts.
- Key Finding: CCRE with cardboard tubes between 1 mm and 4 mm thick demonstrated higher compressive strength than cement-stabilized rammed earth.
- High-Performance Variant: When reinforced with carbon fibre, the material reached strength levels similar to high-performance concrete, while keeping a drastically lower carbon footprint.
- Practical Implication: This positions CCRE as a viable option for low-rise housing, emergency shelters, and climate-resilient infrastructure, not just niche architectural projects.
What Makes This a Scalable Solution for the Construction Industry?
The system’s ease of use, utilization of waste streams, and logistical benefits are what make it scalable.
- Waste Integration: Australia landfills over 2.2 million tonnes of paper and cardboard annually. CCRE creates a high-value reuse pathway for this waste.
- Reduced Logistics: Lightweight cardboard formwork is easy to transport, while primary ingredients—soil and water—can be sourced on or near the building site, slashing material transport costs and emissions.
- Modular Design: Builders can calibrate strength by adjusting tube thickness and soil composition, offering flexibility for different structural requirements.
Who Stands to Benefit From This Technology Immediately?
The immediate applications target pressing global challenges:
- Hot-Climate Regions: In warmer areas, the material’s high thermal mass from conventional rammed earth allows for passive cooling and lowers energy requirements.
- Circular Economy Projects: Governments and developers focused on sustainable infrastructure and waste reduction now have a proven, practical alternative.
- Rapid & Emergency Housing: The method can be rapidly deployed for disaster relief or low-cost housing projects due to simple use and no need for specialist equipment or training.
RMIT’s development highlights a major pivot from material science refining cement to strategies designed to eliminate cement entirely. By merging waste valorization with low-impact local sourcing, CCRE shows a tangible, data-backed step toward decarbonizing the built world’s foundation.
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