“Low-Carbon Construction Materials and Structures for Circularity: CO₂ Quantification and Reduction”

Call for Papers – Special Issue: “Low-Carbon Construction Materials and Structures for Circularity: CO₂ Quantification and Reduction”

Journal: Engineering Sustainability
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Submission deadlines: 31 August 2026 (Abstract) | 31 January 2027 (Full Paper)

Overview

This special issue—published by Emerald—invites research that bridges the gap between circular economy principles and transparent CO₂ quantification in the construction sector. As the industry faces urgent pressure to reduce energy use, raw material consumption, and greenhouse-gas emissions, this issue focuses on measurable, reproducible carbon reduction. The guest editors seek high-quality submissions that link quantified carbon outcomes to material performance, durability, and service-life, moving beyond linear construction models toward closed-loop circular systems.

Key Research Themes

• Low-Carbon Binders: Performance and quantified CO₂ reduction of low-clinker cements, blended binders, alkali-activated materials, and geopolymers.

• Recycled Systems: Embodied-carbon baselines for multi-recycled concrete and aggregate systems.

• CO₂ Mineralization/Curing: Verification of CO₂ uptake in cementitious materials, recycled aggregates, and fines, and its net impact on carbon reduction.

• Methodology & Quantification: Development of emission factors, inventory data, and measurement protocols (including system boundaries, functional units, and uncertainty propagation).

• Lifecycle Assessment: Application of LCA/LCC and circularity indicators at component, building, and infrastructure scales.

• Design for Circularity: Performance-based design, structural reliability, and "design for deconstruction" models that enable closed-loop construction and reuse.

Submission Details

• Abstract Deadline: 31 August 2026.

• Full Submission Deadline: 31 January 2027.

• Submission portal: https://ice-review.rivervalley.io/journal/jensu

• Special Instructions: You must select “Special Issue” and the specific special issue title from the drop-down menu during submission. All research must include clearly stated baselines, system boundaries, and inventory assumptions.

• Submission Standards: The journal welcomes original research, review articles, and case studies (pilot or full-scale). All submissions must adhere to the Engineering Sustainability Author Guidelines.

Guest Editor Team

• Dianchao Wang, University of Tokyo (wdc@arch1.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp)

• Shan Gao, Harbin Institute of Technology (gaoshan@hit.edu.cn)

• Takafumi Noguchi, University of Tokyo (noguchi@bme.arch.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp)

Why This Issue Matters

The construction industry is a primary driver of global carbon emissions, yet the potential for circularity in cementitious materials remains largely untapped. This special issue provides a necessary, rigorous forum to standardize how we quantify carbon reduction, ensuring that innovation in materials and structural design is backed by verifiable data. It is an essential platform for researchers working to transform construction from a linear, carbon-intensive sector into a low-carbon, circular engine for future development.

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