Plastic-Based Bricks as Sustainable Alternative for Affordable Housing

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Yamkela Portia Mlengana, Emmanuel Kabundu and Sijekula Mbanga

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Keywords: Plastic-based Bricks, Affordable Housing, Sustainable Construction, Lifecycle Assessment, Circular Economy.

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ABSTRACT

This paper reviews the potential of plastic-based bricks as sustainable alternatives for affordable housing delivery. The aim is to identify whether, and under what conditions, plastic-based bricks could transition from “peripheral” innovation to a core strategy in sustainable, affordable housing delivery. A critical literature review focuses on the environmental performance of plastic-based masonry materials, implementation barriers, and integration within current construction systems. The review was conducted analysing international and local research on plastic-based bricks through the lens of lifecycle thinking, circular economy, and regenerative sustainability frameworks. The findings show that plastic-based bricks offer strong environmental potential by reducing embodied carbon, diverting waste, and lowering resource dependency. However, their adoption remains limited due to regulatory exclusion, a lack of standardised lifecycle assessment data, and institutional resistance within the construction sector, but when enabling conditions are in place, plastic-based bricks have the potential to contribute meaningfully to sustainable and affordable housing. As the study draws solely from literature, further localised empirical testing, region-specific lifecycle assessments, and long-term performance validation are needed for them to be accepted and upscaled. The paper aligns with the Construction 5.0 agenda and the subtheme of Sustainable Construction and Environment by positioning plastic-based bricks as circular, low-carbon masonry materials.