Utilization of Waste Glass in Cement-Based Materials

The accumulation of waste glass presents both an environmental challenge and an opportunity for sustainable construction. Fragmented glass can be processed into fine or coarse aggregates, replacing natural sand and gravel, while finely ground glass powder acts as a supplementary cementitious material through its pozzolanic reactivity. Incorporation of waste glass has been shown to reduce the carbon footprint of cement production, mitigate landfill disposal and conserve virgin resources. In mortars and conventional concretes, optimised glass‐aggregate replacements (typically 10–20%) preserve or enhance compressive strength and durability, although excessive content may impair workability and induce alkali–silica reaction. In high-performance and ultra-high-performance concretes, glass powder can partially substitute cement up to 20–30%, refining pore structure and improving long-term strength. Geopolymer binders also benefit from glass powder as a precursor, supporting the circularity of silica‐rich waste. Key challenges include controlling alkali–silica expansion, ensuring homogeneity in large-scale pours and developing standardised mix-design guidelines. Overall, the utilisation of waste glass in cementitious systems offers a pathway to greener materials and circular economy practices in the built environment.

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Utilization of Waste Glass in Cement-Based Materials publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in utilization of waste glass in cement-based materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Pozzolanic reaction: A chemical interaction between amorphous silica in glass powder and calcium hydroxide from cement hydration, forming additional calcium silicate hydrate and enhancing mechanical and durability properties.

Supplementary cementitious material (SCM): A non-portland cement component, such as glass powder or fly ash, that contributes to the strength and durability of concrete by participating in secondary hydration reactions.

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC): A cementitious composite characterised by compressive strengths exceeding 120 MPa, very low porosity and typically enhanced with fine powders and fibres for superior mechanical and durability performance.

Life cycle assessment (LCA): A cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave evaluation method quantifying the environmental impacts of a material or product across its entire production, use and disposal phases.

References

1. A comparative review on the utilisation of recycled waste glass, ceramic and rubber as fine aggregate on high performance concrete: Mechanical and durability properties. Developments in the Built Environment (2024).
2. Life-cycle environmental assessment of ultra-high-performance concrete with sustainable materials and fiber substitutions. Cleaner Engineering and Technology (2024).
3. Recycling of waste glass as aggregate in cement-based materials. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology (2020).
4. A state-of-the-art review of crushed urban waste glass used in OPC and AAMs (geopolymer): Progress and challenges. Cleaner Materials (2022).