The advancement of eco-friendly technology in the construction sector has been improving rapidly in the last few years. As a result, multiple building materials were developed, enhanced, and proposed as replacements for some traditional materials. One notable example presents geopolymer as a substitute for ordinary Portland concrete (OPC). The manufacturing process of (OPC) generates CO₂ emissions and a high energy demand, both of which contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. The implementation of geopolymer concrete (GPC) technology in the construction sector provides a path to more sustainable growth and a cleaner environment. This is due to geopolymer concrete’s ability to reduce environmental pollutants and reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint. This is achieved through its unique composition, which typically involves industrial byproducts like fly ash or slag. These materials, rich in silicon and aluminum, react with alkaline solutions to form a binding gel, bypassing the need for the high-energy clinker production required in OPC. The use of such byproducts not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also contributes to waste minimization. Additionally, geopolymer offers extra advantages compared to OPC, including improved mechanical strength, enhanced durability, and good stability in acidic and alkaline settings. Such properties make GPC particularly suitable for a range of construction environments, from industrial applications to infrastructure projects exposed to harsh conditions. This paper comprehensively reviews the different characteristics of geopolymers, which include their composition, compressive strength, durability, and curing methods. Furthermore, the environmental impacts related to the manufacturing of geopolymer materials were evaluated through the life-cycle assessment method. The result demonstrated that geopolymer concrete maintains positive environmental impacts due to the fact that it produces fewer carbon dioxide CO₂ emissions compared to OPC concrete during its manufacturing; however, geopolymer concrete had some minor negative environmental impacts, including abiotic depletion, human toxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and acidification. These are important considerations for ongoing research aimed at further improving the sustainability of geopolymer concrete. Moreover, it was determined that silicate content, curing temperature, and the proportion of alkaline solution to binder are the major factors significantly influencing the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete. The advancement of geopolymer technology represents not just a stride toward more sustainable construction practices but also paves the way for innovative approaches in the field of building materials.

Environmental awareness and the need for sustainable construction inspired researchers and practitioners to explore innovative alternatives that might reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use related to excessive structural work. One such alternative is the utilization of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars as a reinforcement in reinforced concrete members. FRP bars possess favorable characteristics like high tensile strength, lightweight and corrosion resistance compared to steel. This feature makes FRP bars a potential solution for utilizing seawater instead of fresh water in concrete mixtures, especially in areas facing a harsh climate and water shortage like the Arabian Peninsula. This paper aims to assess and evaluate the environmental impacts through life cycle assessment of glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, and steel glass fiber reinforced polymer bars compared to steel bars. Moreover, another LCA was conducted comparing steel-reinforced beams made with desalinated fresh water to GFRP/CFRP reinforced beams made with seawater for the concrete mixture. The results indicate that the GFRP bar performed better than the steel bar in 10 out of 14 categories, while the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer bar performed worse than the steel bar in 10 out of 14 categories. The SGFRP bar had a result between the steel and GFRP bar, outperforming the steel bar in 10 categories. Furthermore, the GFRP beam exhibited better environmental performance than the steel beam in 9 out of 14 categories, while the CFRP beam performed better than the steel beam in 8 categories, attributed to the reduction in reinforcement ratio due to the high tensile strength of CFRP and GFRP bars compared to steel bars. Overall, this study sheds light on the possible environmental advantages of using FRP bars in construction and highlights the importance of sustainable construction practices in minimizing environmental impacts.

The construction sector is well known for its critical environmental impact resulting from the consumed amounts of raw materials and the tremendous emissions of greenhouse gases. Therefore, scientists need to promote and study the environmental implications of using alternative solutions such as fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) throughout their service life. FRPs have gained increasing popularity in the last few years due to their durability, high corrosion resistance, light weight and high strength. Life cycle assessment is considered one of the most important methods to investigate the environmental impacts of the FRP. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of fiber-reinforced polymer composites in concrete structures with an investigation focusing on their environmental and mechanical properties in civil engineering structures. The main focus is set on the properties of fiber-reinforced polymers, their use as a strengthening technique in concrete structural members and their environmental impact using the life cycle assessment method. The reported results from the literature reveal that utilizing FRP composites in structural members instead of traditional materials improves their strength and stiffness and reduces environmental impacts.