Revolutionizing Construction: New Materials and Techniques for Eco-Conscious Builders
By Rose Morrison, managing editor of Renovated.
Although the year has only just begun, the top innovative sustainable construction materials and practices for 2025 are already apparent. Which ones do industry professionals prefer? More importantly, will they have a lasting impact on the sector?
Innovative Sustainable Construction Practices for 2025
More builders than ever are leaning into environmentally friendly designs. From circularity to modularity, here are the top innovative sustainable construction practices for 2025.
1. Reusability
The future of sustainable urban planning involves recycled construction materials. Workers generate a massive amount of solid waste during deconstruction. Though materials like concrete, glass, steel and wood remain usable, they are thrown out. Instead of landfilling these valuable resources, construction teams can reuse them in future projects.
The Urbanización El Paraíso is an excellent case study that demonstrates the strategies for reducing waste in construction projects. This multiunit residential building located in Valparaíso, Colombia, was built in 2019. During construction and the first year of operation, 99% of waste was diverted — 18,000 metric tons of solid waste was recycled and 100% of organic waste was composted.
2. Energy Efficiency
Energy-efficient construction practices are increasingly popular because they benefit both the building owners and tenants. Low-power building systems and renewable power sources reduce greenhouse gases and lower utility bills.
3. Circularity
A circular economy in construction minimizes waste throughout a structure’s life cycle. Professionals create an end-of-life plan for old buildings. This practice is essential because new construction is an expensive, time-consuming option compared to remodeling and expansion. While it offers the most creative freedom, it requires builders to acquire land, secure permits and plan extensively. Circularity is more budget- and schedule-friendly.
4. Modularity
In modular construction, a prefabricated building is constructed off-site and shipped to the intended site. This sustainable construction practice saves time, money and materials, making environmentally friendly homes more accessible.
How Sustainable Practices Are Shaping Construction
While the innovative sustainable construction practices emerging in 2025 have existed for years, they have not been mainstream until now. As they grow more popular, their impacts become more apparent. Already, the world is seeing how sustainable practices are shaping the construction industry.
For instance, Mae-Ling Lokko, architect, scientist and founder of Willow Technologies, recently discussed the circular economy in construction in an interview with ArchDaily. Lokko has gained global notoriety for her work on fiberboards made of agricultural waste. The coconut industry in Ghana discards coconut husks, which she turns into panels that can be used for insulation.
In her interview, she stated, “My work over the next few years will focus on what it means to design a building material not with the goal on the building phase alone. What if the goal is to figure out how the building returns to the soil? We are in such a huge crisis now where most of what we produce is completely incompatible with the chemical and biological systems present in the land, and that’s why things take too long to degrade, to go back to the soil.
“These conditions are not separate from the building performance. Architecture life cycle should encompass both what our buildings do to materials and how the environment deals with the materials after. But that is a huge challenge, we have to understand much better what happens, what our soil is made of, what’s in our materials. That is a paradigm change, so I don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.”
While Lokko isn’t optimistic about the pace at which sustainable construction practices will grow in popularity, her work’s renown speaks for itself. Besides, the more homebuyers and business owners become aware of the benefits of environmentally friendly builds, the more eco-friendly buildings will be built.
Impact of Innovative Materials on Building Sustainability
Companies can only build sustainably with the right resources. That said, the impact of innovative materials on building sustainability varies. Whether they are living, recycled or biodegradable will determine their effect on the environment, climate and industry.
Recycled Construction Materials
Recycled construction materials are easy to source because the built environment is massive. Reusable resources don’t just come from demolition, though. Builders can use waste from other industries. For example, around 95% of the substances in ferrock are recycled, most of which come from iron mills’ byproducts.
Living Construction Materials
While green structures make up just a fraction of the world’s building stock, more architects are finding value in replacing conventional walls and roofs with green alternatives. Thanks to advancements in renewable materials for construction, incorporating greenery into traditional architecture is becoming more accessible. Some companies are even exploring turning live vegetation like willow trees and boxwood shrubs into gazebos, fences and pergolas.
Biodegradable Building Products
Biodegradable building products will break down naturally in the environment under certain conditions. For example, bamboo — which is two to three times stronger than steel in tensile strength — will break down in a matter of months when composted.
All-Natural Building Supplies
The impact of natural materials on building sustainability is impressive. Eco-friendly, locally sourced resources are better for the climate. They are also better suited for their native environment, which can help them last longer. For example, terrazzo flooring — a tile alternative made from granite, marble and stone — lasts almost four decades if properly cared for. Plus, unlike laminate or vinyl, it doesn’t contain hazardous volatile organic compounds.
The Benefits of Using Eco-Friendly Construction Materials
Although eco-friendly material choice hasn’t been mainstream for long, the long-term impact of innovative materials on building sustainability is already known thanks to early adopters.
1. Lesser Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of innovative construction materials is promising. While the specifics depend on whether they are natural, biodegradable, recycled or living, they each contribute to climate resilience and help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Increased Energy Efficiency
Renewables are typically less expensive and more effective than fossil fuels. For instance, a geothermal system could lower heating costs by up to 70% because it’s so efficient. Notably, if homeowners use a battery system, they can even sell their surplus energy back to the grid, enabling them to make a tidy profit.
Combining energy-efficient construction practices and materials minimizes waste. The 99M — a 230,000-square-foot building with a LEED certification — is an excellent example. Heidi Creighton, the vice president of the company that built it, says it’s one of their top-performing projects. Its all-electric heating and cooling system, innovative building materials and smart technology integrations allow for superior performance.
3. Easier Regulatory Compliance
As environmental regulations become increasingly strict, it’s in construction companies’ best interest to invest in sustainable practices and building materials early on. This way, they won’t have to face fines or expensive last-minute design changes in the future.
4. Improved Cost Savings
Leveraging strategies for reducing waste in construction projects can lower sourcing costs. Whether companies use locally sourced clay or recycled wood, they don’t have to factor in the costs associated with mining, transport or storage.
Even when eco-friendly options are more expensive upfront, they usually pay for themselves in the long run. For instance, although rammed earth costs up to $750 per square meter and brick is $20 or less per square meter, rammed earth can last for centuries — far longer than any brick wall. Besides, the high price mostly stems from specialized labor and equipment. Clay, gravel, silt and sand are generally cheap.
Where Does Sustainable Urban Construction Take Place?
Today, most sustainable construction practices take place in urban areas or private residences instead of rural areas or on public property. Since few widely accepted standards or supply networks exist, many contractors see it as a relatively risky investment. As a result, they build in locations with the most visibility and the highest returns.
In an interview, Yoshihisa Hirata, president of Chiyoda Ute Co., Ltd., commented on sustainable urban planning. When asked for his take on the needs of Japan’s construction market, he stated, “Buildings are becoming much more obsolete recently, especially outside Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. These areas in particular are seeing a number of reconstruction projects, so I do believe there is currently a rebirth of buildings. I believe that there will be a wider gap between urban areas and rural areas in terms of reconstruction which will be taking place.
“If we try to rebuild these kinds of obsolete or older buildings in rural areas, we will have budget issues as well. Within our industry there are various targets, one is for private real estate and the other is for commercial buildings as well as offices. In terms of commercial and office buildings, I think the demand is going to increase shortly, however, I don’t think it is going to be as simple as observing growth in real estate and that is because of the demographic changes and the decline of Japan’s population.”
His point is relevant to more than just Japan’s construction market. Sustainable construction practices for urban development are becoming more popular worldwide. This isn’t all bad, though. Commercial buildings are responsible for 29% of the world’s energy demand, so prioritizing them makes sense.
Besides, every successful project is further proof that sustainable practices and materials work. Eventually, when enough retail and office spaces become environmentally friendly, residential areas will pick up on the trend. As it becomes more affordable, people living in rural areas will be able to participate.
The Future Trends in Sustainable Construction Materials and Methods
Since industry professionals are still adapting to environmentally friendly practices and materials, the future of sustainable construction remains up in the air. Where these methods go from here depends entirely on how they’re implemented today.
About the Author
Rose is the managing editor of Renovated and has been writing in the construction industry for over five years. She’s most passionate about sustainable building and incorporating similar resourceful methods into our world. For more from Rose, you can follow her on Twitter.