The Sustainable Materials for Buildings (SuMaB) Flagship addresses SDG12 by promoting environmentally safe, resource-efficient building materials that reduce waste and support circular economy principles. The initiative focuses on three thematic categories: Natural Materials, Recycled Materials, and Innovative Composites & Hybrids. These include bio-based alternatives like bamboo and mycelium, recycled materials, and smart technologies such as self-healing concrete and phase-change materials.
SuMaB brings together interdisciplinary expertise from materials science, engineering, environmental science, architecture, and economics to develop durable, energy-efficient, and low-carbon construction solutions. Expected impacts include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved indoor air quality, enhanced circularity, and strengthened local supply chains.
Aligned with EURECA-PRO’s Strategic Challenge A – ‘Circular Economy and Natural Resources Management for Sustainable Materials’ and the New European Bauhaus principles, SuMaB integrates research, education, and innovation to drive Europe’s sustainable construction transformation. The flagship community plans to pursue Horizon Europe funding opportunities from early 2026, including MSCA Doctoral Networks and Built4People Partnership initiatives.
CONTACT
Noni Maravelaki (Technical University of Crete): pmaravelaki<at>tuc.gr
Marcin Gorski (Silesian University of Technology): marcin.gorski<at>polsl.pl
Wouter Schroeyers (HasseltUniversity):wouter.schroeyers<at>uhasselt.be