Australian engineers create reusable building material emitting just a quarter of concrete’s carbon footprint

Engineers in Australia have unveiled an innovative building material, termed cardboard-confined rammed earth, comprised solely of cardboard, soil, and water. This new material eliminates the need for cement, reducing emissions to about one quarter of those from traditional concrete, while costing under a third as much.

The method works by compacting a soil-and-water mixture inside cardboard formwork, which can be produced on site and reused or recycled. Because heavy transport of conventional building materials is reduced, the approach is especially promising for remote or resource-limited regions.

In related experiments, the researchers combined carbon fibre with rammed earth and achieved strength comparable to high-performance concrete. The design also leverages the thermal mass of earth materials, naturally regulating indoor temperature and humidity—particularly suitable in hot climates.