Project description
Decarbonising construction with enhanced earthen building blocks
The construction sector generates substantial greenhouse gas emissions, making urgent decarbonisation essential. Although earthen constructions are thermally efficient and locally scalable, their structural variability, particularly low strength and poor erosion resistance, limits their large-scale use. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Bio-CEBs project aims to develop a new solution by harnessing the adhesive properties of locust bean gum and sodium alginate to produce high-quality, locally sourced earth blocks. Using both materials is expected to improve durability and mechanical performance while preserving recyclability.
Objective
The construction sector plays a vital role in our economy and society, but at a high cost to the environment. Exacerbated by the climate and energy crisis, the demand for sustainable building materials is increasing. Earthen materials are sustainable due to their local availability, high thermal efficiency, recyclability and low emissions. However, due to heterogeneity, they exhibit limited mechanical performance and high susceptibility to erosion. This project concerns the development of innovative compressed earth blocks stabilised with biopolymers (Bio-CEB). Locust bean gum and sodium alginate, derived from renewable resources, are used as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional lime or cement. By exploiting the combination of the two different molecules, the aim is to improve both the criticalities presented by earthen materials, while preserving their essence and maintaining their recyclability. An extensive experimental campaign, ranging from blocks to full-scale walls and the environmental and economic life-cycle assessment of the proposed materials, will provide fundamental design data for practical implementation. In a mix of excellence, resulting from the collaboration between EPFL, Empa, IG Lehm and Terrabloc, the Bio-CEBs project will provide a modern, safe and sustainable construction solution for regenerative building in the 21st century.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.