Valorization of Wood Waste for Sustainable Construction: Circular Economy Approaches Using Sawdust in Cementitious Materials
Abstract
The construction industry faces mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices amid escalating wood waste generation from sawmilling and demolition activities. This review explores the valorization of sawdust, a prevalent wood waste byproduct within cementitious materials as a cornerstone of circular economy strategies. Drawing on recent literature, we examine sawdust's integration as a partial aggregate replacement, filler, or biochar precursor in concrete, mortars, and magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) composites. Key findings highlight optimal incorporation levels of 5–20% by volume, which yield lightweight materials with enhanced thermal insulation (conductivity reduced to 0.176–0.745 W/mK) and sound absorption (coefficients up to 0.979), while maintaining compressive strengths of 17–50 MPa suitable for non-structural applications. Environmental benefits include diverted landfill waste (e.g., 64 million tonnes annually in the USA), lowered CO? emissions (up to 71% reduction compared to plywood), and carbon sequestration via biochar (870 kg CO?/ton). Challenges such as reduced workability, durability concerns in humid environments, and variability in sawdust quality are addressed through pretreatment methods like boiling or sodium silicate addition. This synthesis underscores sawdust's potential to foster resource-efficient construction, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals, and proposes future research on standardized protocols and life-cycle assessments to accelerate adoption.
Keywords
Sawdust, Wood Waste, Cementitious Materials, Circular Economy, Sustainable Construction, Biochar, Lightweight Concrete
Citations
IRE Journals:
Timitimi, P. E. , Aleru, K.K. , David-Sarogoro, N. , Chukunda, F A.
"Valorization of Wood Waste for Sustainable Construction: Circular Economy Approaches Using Sawdust in Cementitious Materials" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 4 2025 Page 818-828
IEEE:
Timitimi, P. E. , Aleru, K.K. , David-Sarogoro, N. , Chukunda, F A.
"Valorization of Wood Waste for Sustainable Construction: Circular Economy Approaches Using Sawdust in Cementitious Materials" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(4)
About IRE Journals
IRE Journals is an open access online journals established with an aim to publish high quality of research work in various diciplines. We have more than 6 years in publications. Over 2500+ papers already published.
Important Links
For Authors
Volume 8:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 7:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 6:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 5:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 4:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 3:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12