Sustainable Material Sourcing for Marine and Coastal Infrastructure: Challenges and Innovations

This literature review introduces the changing environment of sustainable materials in the marine and coastal infrastructure field, addressing the most critical issues and innovative solutions that contribute to the domain. Because coasts and marine areas are becoming particularly vulnerable to climatic changes, rising sea levels, depletion, and dwindling resources, there is an urgent need to implement environmentally responsible and resilient construction materials and construction sourcing practices. In their review, they thoroughly look at numerous peer-reviewed articles and conclude on the state of practices at the present and many of the critical barriers they encountered along the way including those of material availability, long-term performance data, economic limitations, and the lack of uniform regulatory systems. Corresponding to the proposals, the literature introduces new innovative solutions such as using recycled aggregates, bio-based composites, and green concrete, as well as improving the digital tools and the manufacturing process itself to ensure a more energy-efficient and lower-carbon production. Alternative types of sourcing are also becoming popular solutions to the local materials issues, upcycling, and local material use solutions are also becoming more common. The review ends with the component of the strategic significance that the sustainable sourcing of materials will have in the process of determining the durability, affordability, and environmental sustainability of marine and coastal structures in the future. It demands closer cooperation between researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers to reduce current research gaps and speed up innovation, thus strengthening the sector's position in support of global sustainability targets.