Innovative approaches to upcycling plastic waste into sustainable construction materials: Addressing the global plastic pollution crisis

Abstract

There are several environmental issues pressingly diminishing our planet in the 21st century, one of them is inarguably the environmental degradation through plastic waste. It is, however, imperative to explore creative solutions in order to lessen or eradicate the harm caused by the millions of tons of plastic waste that enter the environment annually, reusing plastic waste to make sustainable building materials is one promising strategy. This review looks at recent advancements in the upcycling of plastic waste, with an emphasis on ways to incorporate plastic into building materials like asphalt, bricks, and concrete. In order to scale these solutions, the paper examines potential future research and policy directions while evaluating the technical, financial, and environmental issues related to these technologies.