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The Evaluation of the Circular Economy Potential of Machine-Pressed Earth Blocks in Affordable Housing Delivery in Lagos, Nigeria
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Circular Economy Potential
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I12-1718728
Abstract
The urbanization in Lagos has significantly increased the demand for affordable housing and aggravated environmental degradation, largely as a result of dependence on energy-intensive construction materials. he prevailing linear take, make, and dispose model in the construction industry is a major contributor to material waste and carbon emissions, indicating the pressing requirement for a transition to circular construction systems. This study uses a mixed-method approach, in-tegrating an organised literature review, comparative material analysis, and lifecycle assessment of machine-pressed earth blocks (MPEBs) relative to conventional building materials used in Lagos. The research shows that MPEBs have significant circular-economy potential, as evidenced by local material sourcing, low embodied energy (0.45–1.5 MJ/kg), full end-of-life recyclability, and notably diminished construction costs. Comparative analysis shows that MPEBs pro-duce up to 85% fewer carbon emissions than reinforced concrete and are 45–55% less expensive per unit than sandcrete blocks in the current Lagos market. The proposed CE-MPEB integration framework delineates six strategic pillars for adoption: material sourcing, production standardization, regulatory reform, community capacity building, lifecycle de-sign, and economic incentivization. The study shows that MPEBs represent a viable and scalable strategy for promoting circular construction in Lagos, mainly within low- to middle-income housing schemes. Policy support, technical stand-ardization, and public and community awareness initiatives are identified as essential enablers for expanding the adop-tion of earth-based construction technologies.
Keywords
Affordable Housing, Circular Economy, Machine-Pressed Earth Blocks, Sustainable Construction, Embod-Ied Energy, Material Lifecycle
How to cite this paper
@article{1718728,
author = {Oladele Favour, Kashim Bahira Atere, Solola Temitayo, Mathias Gideon Ikenya},
title = {The Evaluation of the Circular Economy Potential of Machine-Pressed Earth Blocks in Affordable Housing Delivery in Lagos, Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {9},
number = {12},
pages = {3559-3572},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1718728.pdf},
abstract = {The urbanization in Lagos has significantly increased the demand for affordable housing and aggravated environmental degradation, largely as a result of dependence on energy-intensive construction materials. he prevailing linear take, make, and dispose model in the construction industry is a major contributor to material waste and carbon emissions, indicating the pressing requirement for a transition to circular construction systems. This study uses a mixed-method approach, in-tegrating an organised literature review, comparative material analysis, and lifecycle assessment of machine-pressed earth blocks (MPEBs) relative to conventional building materials used in Lagos. The research shows that MPEBs have significant circular-economy potential, as evidenced by local material sourcing, low embodied energy (0.45–1.5 MJ/kg), full end-of-life recyclability, and notably diminished construction costs. Comparative analysis shows that MPEBs pro-duce up to 85% fewer carbon emissions than reinforced concrete and are 45–55% less expensive per unit than sandcrete blocks in the current Lagos market. The proposed CE-MPEB integration framework delineates six strategic pillars for adoption: material sourcing, production standardization, regulatory reform, community capacity building, lifecycle de-sign, and economic incentivization. The study shows that MPEBs represent a viable and scalable strategy for promoting circular construction in Lagos, mainly within low- to middle-income housing schemes. Policy support, technical stand-ardization, and public and community awareness initiatives are identified as essential enablers for expanding the adop-tion of earth-based construction technologies.},
keywords = {Affordable Housing, Circular Economy, Machine-Pressed Earth Blocks, Sustainable Construction, Embod-Ied Energy, Material Lifecycle},
month = {June},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I12-1718728}
}