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Building with mud: A sustainable alternative to concrete?
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Environment & Climate

Building with mud: A sustainable alternative to concrete?

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The European Union seeks sustainable and affordable construction methods to reduce the environmental impact of cement.
  • Architect Anna Heringer advocates for using natural materials like mud and compacted earth, citing their long history and low environmental footprint.
  • Heringer notes that current construction industry norms and regulations often hinder the adoption of these sustainable alternatives.

The European Union is exploring alternatives to cement, a highly polluting construction material, to achieve climate-neutral, circular, and competitive building practices.

The cement, steel, and bricks need firing. Oil takes millions of years to form. Using earth in its natural state, without adding anything, is the most environmentally friendly and lowest impact way to build.

— Anna HeringerThe German architect explained her proposal for using mud and compacted earth in construction.

German architect Anna Heringer champions "Mud constructions," utilizing mud and compacted earth, a technique proven over millennia and adaptable to various climates. She argues that using earth in its natural state is the most environmentally friendly and lowest-impact method, emphasizing its 100% natural and recyclable qualities. Heringer highlighted the widespread availability of these materials, including in the Global South, and pointed to recent successful implementations, such as in a building on the San Miguel Campus in Upper Bavaria.

It has been demonstrated over thousands of years that it is possible to scale this to billions of homes.

— Anna HeringerThe architect highlighted the long-term viability and scalability of earth construction.

Despite its proven efficacy and scalability, Heringer observes that this approach clashes with the current construction industry's practices and regulations, which are often influenced by the industry itself. She contrasts the cost-effectiveness of importing materials with the value of employing local artisans. Carmen Díaz, director of human resources and sustainability at HOLCIMP, echoed the need for a "local perspective" to foster community skills, while also mentioning the company's focus on developing low-carbon cement and concrete solutions accessible to all markets.

It is cheaper to ship a material from China than to hire local artisans to build a house.

— Anna HeringerThe architect criticized the current economic model in the construction industry.

The debate underscores a tension between traditional, sustainable building methods and the established, often less environmentally conscious, industrial construction sector. While Heringer advocates for a paradigm shift, the industry, represented in part by companies like HOLCIMP, is also working on reducing the carbon footprint of conventional materials.

We are focusing a lot on how to build more sustainably.

— Carmen DíazCarmen Díaz, director of human resources and sustainability at HOLCIMP, spoke about the company's efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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