Ceramic materials have been used to construct buildings for millennia. In recent years, though, manufacturers have become increasingly interested in finding ways to produce and use these traditional materials more sustainably.

Efforts to reduce environmental impact during construction include reducing energy consumption, substituting low-carbon and recycled materials for carbonaceous minerals, and using local resources to minimize transportation costs and energy use. This last approach is exemplified in the article “Effect of treated palm fibers on the mechanical properties of compressed earth bricks stabilized by alkali activated binder-based natural pozzolan.”¹