The utilization of Innovative, Eco-friendly recycled walls in the development of border regions’ educational buildings in Egypt – Nature

Executive Summary

The global construction sector is a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for approximately one-third of global CO₂ emissions and 19% of global energy consumption. This report evaluates an innovative building material—lightweight, detachable bricks made from recycled plastic—as a sustainable alternative to conventional red bricks, particularly for educational buildings in Egypt. The study’s findings indicate that recycled plastic bricks offer substantial benefits aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis demonstrates improved thermal performance, leading to a 15-18% reduction in cooling energy consumption, directly supporting SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The use of recycled materials promotes a circular economy, advancing SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Furthermore, the system delivers significant economic advantages, including a 30% reduction in concrete-related costs and a 90% decrease in construction time, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). By enhancing indoor thermal comfort and providing a rapidly deployable solution for remote areas, this technology also supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Introduction: Aligning Construction with Sustainable Development Goals

The Imperative for Sustainable Construction in Egypt

Energy conservation is a critical component of sustainable development. In Egypt, the building sector consumes nearly 40% of the nation’s energy, primarily for HVAC systems. This high consumption pattern presents a significant challenge to achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and exacerbates contributions to climate change, undermining SDG 13 (Climate Action). The conventional use of half-brick red walls, while low in initial cost, results in poor thermal insulation, leading to increased long-term energy expenditure and compromised indoor comfort. This practice highlights the urgent need for innovative materials that improve building envelope performance and support national sustainability targets, including the “Egyptian Energy Code.”

An Innovative Solution for Resilient Educational Infrastructure

This report investigates recycled plastic bricks as a viable solution to address the interconnected challenges of energy consumption, environmental impact, and the need for resilient infrastructure. This modular, lightweight, and recyclable system is particularly relevant for educational buildings in Egypt’s border regions, where cost-effectiveness and rapid deployment are essential. The study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of this technology’s potential to advance multiple SDGs:

1. SDG 4 (Quality Education): By creating more comfortable and rapidly deployable learning environments.
2. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By introducing a sustainable and innovative building material.
3. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By promoting energy-efficient and resource-conscious building practices.
4. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By transforming plastic waste into a valuable construction resource.

Research Methodology

Comparative Framework

A comparative analysis was conducted between two building prototypes based on a standardized classroom model from the General Authority for Educational Buildings in Egypt. The prototypes were identical in design, orientation, and configuration, differing only in the external wall system:

• Prototype 1: Conventional red brick walls (12 cm thickness).
• Prototype 2: Modular, detachable recycled plastic bricks (15 cm thickness).

Simulations were performed using Design-Builder software across three distinct Egyptian climate zones (Alexandria, Cairo, and Aswan) to ensure the findings are applicable nationwide.

Material Development and Selection Criteria

The recycled plastic bricks were manufactured from a composite of waste plastics, including PET, PP, and PE, reinforced with polypropylene connectors and recycled organic fibers. This process directly supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by diverting waste from landfills. Material selection was guided by criteria aligned with sustainable development principles:

• Cost Efficiency: To minimize initial and operational costs, supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Thermal Performance: To reduce energy demand and enhance indoor comfort, contributing to SDG 7 and SDG 3.
• Environmental Impact: To lower embodied energy and carbon emissions, in line with SDG 13.
• Durability and Reusability: To create resilient and adaptable infrastructure, advancing SDG 9 and SDG 11.

Performance Testing and Validation

A multi-faceted testing procedure was employed to validate the performance of the recycled plastic brick system. This included predictive simulations combined with empirical validation through prototype construction and laboratory tests at the National Research Center. Key tests included:

1. Structural Analysis: Using ETABS and SAFE software to quantify material savings.
2. Thermal Performance Simulation: To assess energy savings and indoor temperature reduction.
3. Fire Resistance Testing: To ensure occupant safety, a key component of resilient infrastructure (SDG 9). The system demonstrated over 60 minutes of fire resistance.
4. Acoustic Insulation Testing: To evaluate the quality of the indoor learning environment (SDG 4).

Analysis of Findings

Thermal Performance and Energy Efficiency (SDG 7 & SDG 13)

The results demonstrate the superior thermal performance of recycled plastic bricks. Classrooms constructed with this system achieved an average indoor temperature reduction of 1.5°C, compared to just 0.3°C for red brick walls. This improvement translates to an average cooling energy saving of 15.7% across the three climate zones. By significantly reducing the operational energy demand of buildings, this innovation directly contributes to mitigating climate change (SDG 13) and promoting access to sustainable energy (SDG 7).

Environmental Impact Assessment (SDG 12 & SDG 13)

An analysis of cradle-to-gate embodied energy and carbon emissions revealed substantial environmental benefits. The use of recycled plastic as a primary material drastically reduces the environmental footprint compared to energy-intensive red brick manufacturing. This circular economy approach, which transforms waste into a resource, is a core tenet of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and contributes to the decarbonization of the construction sector, a critical goal for SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Economic Viability and Construction Efficiency (SDG 8 & SDG 9)

The lightweight nature of the plastic bricks yields significant economic advantages. The reduced structural dead load allows for smaller foundations and structural elements, resulting in an estimated 30% saving in reinforced concrete costs. Furthermore, the modular design enables rapid assembly, reducing construction time from approximately 80 days for a conventional classroom to just 4 days. This efficiency accelerates the delivery of essential infrastructure (SDG 9) and reduces overall project costs, promoting sustainable economic growth (SDG 8).

Health, Safety, and Well-being (SDG 3 & SDG 4)

The improved thermal performance creates a more comfortable and conducive learning environment, which is essential for student well-being and educational outcomes, thereby supporting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). The system’s validated fire resistance and acoustic insulation properties further enhance the safety and quality of educational facilities.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Summary of Key Findings

This report confirms that recycled plastic bricks offer a compelling, multi-beneficial alternative to traditional construction materials in Egypt. The system is economically advantageous, environmentally superior, and significantly more efficient to deploy. It enhances building performance by improving thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption while meeting critical safety standards.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

The adoption of recycled plastic brick technology can accelerate progress across numerous SDGs. Its implementation offers a tangible pathway to:

• Decarbonize the building sector (SDG 13)
• Reduce energy poverty and costs (SDG 7)
• Promote a circular economy (SDG 12)
• Build resilient and innovative infrastructure (SDG 9)
• Improve educational environments and public health (SDG 4, SDG 3)
• Foster sustainable economic models (SDG 8, SDG 11)

Limitations and Future Research

While the findings are robust, the analysis is primarily based on simulations and controlled laboratory tests. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring of real-world pilot projects to validate performance under various operational conditions. Further investigation is also needed to address potential challenges to large-scale implementation, including supply chain development, local building code integration, and public acceptance. Addressing these factors will be crucial for unlocking the full potential of this innovative technology to build a more sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the construction sector, particularly in Egypt. It proposes an innovative solution—recycled plastic bricks—to mitigate these impacts. The following SDGs are connected to the issues discussed:

• SDG 4: Quality Education – The study specifically focuses on improving the infrastructure of educational buildings, which is essential for providing a safe and conducive learning environment.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – A central theme is reducing the high energy consumption of buildings, particularly for cooling, thereby promoting energy efficiency.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The article promotes innovation in construction materials and advocates for sustainable, resilient, and efficient infrastructure.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The research directly addresses the need for sustainable buildings that reduce energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and construction costs, contributing to more sustainable urban environments.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The core proposal involves using recycled plastic waste to manufacture building materials, which exemplifies circular economy principles, waste reduction, and sustainable resource management.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The article explicitly links the construction sector’s high energy use and CO₂ emissions to climate change and proposes a solution to mitigate these effects.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion of energy efficiency, sustainable materials, and infrastructure development, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The article directly supports this target by investigating cost-effective, durable, and rapidly deployable materials for “educational buildings in Egypt’s border regions,” aiming to improve the physical learning environment.

2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The article is fundamentally about improving energy efficiency in the building sector, which it states “consumes about 19% of global energy” and “nearly 40% of national energy” in Egypt. The study’s goal is to find an alternative wall system that can “improve indoor thermal comfort” and reduce “long-term energy use.”

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries, including their buildings, to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The research promotes an “innovative solution for building envelopes” by using “recycled plastic bricks,” which represents a clean and resource-efficient technology for the construction industry.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article addresses this by proposing a method to reduce building CO₂ emissions (which it notes are “roughly one-third of global CO₂ emissions”) and by managing plastic waste through recycling.
   • Target 11.c: Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings using local materials. While Egypt is not an LDC, the focus on “cost-effective,” “easy to assemble,” and locally relevant solutions for “border regions” aligns with the principle of developing sustainable and affordable building practices in resource-constrained settings.

5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The use of “recycled plastic bricks” made from “polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from bottle bodies, polypropylene (PP) from labels, and polyethylene (PE) from caps” is a direct example of the efficient use of resources that would otherwise be waste.
   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The entire premise of the study is to give value to plastic waste by “recycling” it into a durable construction material, thereby reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.

6. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article mentions that in response to energy shortages, the Egyptian government launched initiatives like the “2008 ‘Egyptian Energy Code’” to “promote energy efficiency in construction.” The study’s findings provide actionable insights for policymakers to further integrate such climate mitigation strategies.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Energy Consumption and Efficiency (for Target 7.3): The article explicitly measures energy performance.
  • Indicator: Reduction in cooling energy consumption. The study found that “recycled plastic wall systems achieved a 15.7% reduction in cooling energy consumption relative to conventional red brick walls.”
  • Indicator: Improvement in thermal performance. The article states that plastic bricks led to an “indoor air temperature reduction of ~ 1.5 °C,” which directly correlates with reduced energy demand for cooling.
• CO₂ Emissions and Embodied Carbon (for Targets 9.4 and 11.6): The study quantifies the environmental impact of the building materials.
  • Indicator: Embodied carbon per square meter of wall (kgCO₂e/m²). Table 2 and Table 3 in the article present calculations for the “Embodied Carbon (EC)” of both red bricks and recycled plastic walls, providing a clear metric for environmental impact.
  • Indicator: Embodied energy per square meter of wall (MJ/m²). The same tables also calculate “Embodied Energy (EE),” which measures the energy required to produce the materials, serving as another indicator of resource efficiency.
• Waste Reduction and Recycling (for Target 12.5): The use of recycled materials is a primary focus.
  • Indicator: Volume or type of waste recycled. The article specifies the use of “three primary waste streams: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from bottle bodies, polypropylene (PP) from labels, and polyethylene (PE) from caps,” implying that the amount of these plastics diverted from landfills can be measured.
• Cost and Construction Efficiency (for Targets 4.a and 9.4): The economic and practical feasibility is assessed with clear metrics.
  • Indicator: Construction cost savings. The study notes that recycled plastic bricks lead to “an estimated saving of around 30% per cubic meter of concrete in wall construction” due to reduced structural load.
  • Indicator: Construction time. The article highlights a significant improvement in efficiency, stating that a classroom was built in “~ 4 days compared to ~ 80 days for red brick masonry,” a reduction of over 90%.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary Table

Source: nature.com