Innovating for Sustainability: A Review of Environmentally Friendly Building Materials

Abstract: The urgent need to mitigate environmental degradation in the construction sector has led to a growing interest in environmentally friendly building materials. This narrative review explores sustainable building materials with a focus on four critical aspects, including recycling and reuse, sustainable production processes, the use of renewable resources, and reduction of environmental impacts across the life cycle. Key themes include material durability, lifecycle assessment, circular economy integration, and policy support for green innovation. Major findings indicate that while these materials demonstrate promising environmental and mechanical performance, their widespread adoption is hindered by market resistance, standardization gaps, and economic constraints. This review underscores the importance of aligning construction practices with sustainability goals and provides a foundation for future research to address implementation challenges. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and localized strategies, the review calls for systemic change in material selection and building practices to promote sustainable development.