A New Recyclable Building Material That Absorbs CO2

Robots may not be pouring concrete yet, but biological chemistry just might, thanks to a new material that captures carbon instead of emitting it.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researchers have developed a carbon-negative building material that could reshape what sustainable construction looks like.

The team has created enzymatic structural material, or ESM, a durable, moldable, and recyclable substance produced through a low-energy, bioinspired process.

The breakthrough comes from work led by Nima Rahbar, the Ralph H. White Family Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at WPI.

Rahbar’s team used an enzyme that transforms carbon dioxide into solid mineral particles. Those particles are then bound and cured under mild conditions, allowing the mixture to form structural components within hours.

That speed alone sets it apart. Traditional concrete demands high temperatures and weeks of curing. ESM forms far faster, and with a fraction of the environmental impact.

Rahbar says the global dependence on concrete urgently needs rethinking.

"Concrete is the most widely used construction material on the planet, and its production accounts for nearly 8 percent of global CO2 emissions," he said. He added that the new method "doesn’t just reduce emissions—it actually captures carbon."

According to the researchers, producing a single cubic meter of ESM sequesters more than 6 kilograms of CO2.

In contrast, the same amount of conventional concrete emits around 330 kilograms.

Beyond emissions, ESM’s ability to cure quickly, adjust in strength, and be recycled makes it a candidate for applications such as wall panels, roof decks, and modular building parts.

Its repairability could also reduce the long-term costs of upkeep, an often overlooked component of construction waste.

"If even a fraction of global construction shifts toward carbon-negative materials like ESM, the impact could be enormous," Rahbar said.

The potential applications stretch far beyond everyday buildings. Lightweight, fast-forming, and low-energy structural materials are valuable in disaster relief zones, where speed can shape recovery.

ESM could also play a role in affordable housing, climate-resilient infrastructure, and circular manufacturing systems that prioritize recycling over disposal.