Binders are important construction materials, especially with plant-based granulates and fibers. A binder is chosen for its physical and chemical properties to be compatible with some construction requirements. New market trends show that green binders meet global sustainability targets, which is a step towards greener buildings and a greener environment. This study presents a cradle-to-gate comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of synthetic binders (Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC)) and agriculture starch-based binders made from cassava, wheat, and corn. The LCA was conducted using SimaPro software based on ISO 14040/14044 standards using the ReCiPe Midpoint and CML IA Baseline method. The assessment is cradle-to-gate with a binder production function unit of 1 kg. Key environmental sustainability metrics like Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Acidification Potential (AP) are assessed to rank the binder sustainability against each other. The results show that synthetic binder PVA has the highest environmental impact in almost all impact categories, especially GWP (6.55 kg CO ₂ eq in ReCiPe and 6.37 kg CO ₂ eq in CML) and AP (0.012 kg SO ₂ eq in ReCiPe and 0.015 kg SO ₂ eq in CML). Among natural binders, Corn Starch shows the lowest environmental impact with GWP values of 0.930 kg CO ₂ eq (ReCiPe) and 0.896 kg CO ₂ eq (CML) and AP values of 0.010 kg SO ₂ eq (ReCiPe) and 0.016 kg SO ₂ eq (CML). The agricultural binders (Cassava Starch, Wheat Starch, and Corn Starch) are environmentally friendlier than the synthetic binders (PVA and CMC). Although agricultural binders carry environmental costs associated with farming operations, they have lower environmental impacts than synthetic alternatives, demonstrating their sustainability potential in binder applications.

Noise pollution is a major global health issue, especially in large cities. Its effects go beyond mere annoyance, impacting health, emotions, and behavior. As noise levels rise, researchers are looking for better solutions to address this global issue, with natural fibers emerging as a promising option for sound absorption. Traditional synthetic materials used for sound absorption have negative environmental and health impacts, leading to growing interest in biodegradable natural fibers like coconut fiber, groundnut shell, and sugarcane fiber as safer alternatives. These materials absorb sound well and are environmentally friendly and safe for human health. This study explores the use of biodegradable agricultural waste fibers (coconut fiber, groundnut shell, and sugarcane fiber) for sound absorption. Samples with densities of 75 kg/m ³ , 100 kg/m ³ , and 125 kg/m ³ were mixed with an equal percentage of non-toxic PVA binder. The sound absorption coefficient was measured according to the ISO 10534-2 standard. The results showed that the 75 kg/m ³ sugarcane fiber sample had the highest average sound absorption coefficient of 0.94 at 800 Hz (mid-frequency range: 500–2000 Hz). The 125 kg/m ³ coconut fiber sample came next, with the highest average sound absorption coefficient of 0.91 at 1000 Hz (mid-frequency range: 500–2000 Hz). The groundnut shell material showed the lowest sound absorption coefficient, the sample with a density of 125 kg/m ³ had the highest average sound absorption coefficient of 0.81 at 3150 Hz (high-frequency range). These findings suggest that these natural materials could be effective for noise reduction in places like classrooms, libraries, and cafes. The approach aligns with global sustainability efforts while addressing the issue of noise pollution in large cities.

The use of agricultural waste fibres and natural binders is being investigated as alternatives to synthetic indoor acoustic materials. However, few studies have compared the fibre type, biopolymer type, and fibre-to-binder ratio for both sound absorption and sound transmission within a single controlled composite system. This study investigated the acoustic performance of sugarcane fibre (SF) and coconut fibre (CF) with a fixed thickness of 20 mm and density of 200 kg/m³, mixed with cassava, corn and potato starch binders with fibre–binder ratios from 1:1.0 to 1:0.1. Sound absorption coefficient was measured with an impedance tube, according to ISO 10534-2, and the sound transmission coefficient was determined using a four-microphone impedance tube system, according to ASTM E2611. Porosity was also tested for its relation to acoustic behaviour. The results showed that the coconut fibre composite recorded higher peak absorption, including α = 0.95 for cassava 1:0.6 to 1:0.7 and corn 1:0.6, while sugarcane fibre showed stronger transmission resistance, with SF-CAS-200-1:0.3 decreasing from τ = 0.11 at 160 Hz to 0.02 at 5000 Hz, and SF-PT-200-1:0.4 from τ = 0.10 to 0.03. The highest porosity values were 85.29%, recorded for SC-CAS-200-1:0.1, and 84.13% for CF-CAS-200-1:0.1. Overall, sugarcane fibre composites offered the best balance of absorption and low transmission, indicating strong potential for sustainable indoor acoustic panels, such as ceiling linings and wall systems. Further research should evaluate mechanical strength, fire performance, durability, and moisture resistance to support practical building applications.

Agriculture plays a crucial part in the economic growth of several developing nations; however, it creates 1,300 million tons of waste each year, which generates environmental issues. Noise pollution, particularly in urban environments, is an expanding global health issue for emotional and physical health. Conventional synthetic sound absorption materials used for sound absorption pose environmental and health risks; therefore, agricultural wastes including coconut fiber and sugarcane fiber, are being sought for safer alternatives. Natural fibers as sustainable sound-absorbing solutions draw increasing research attention. This paper evaluates the Life Cycle Assessment of agriculture waste based on the SWM-GHG calculator to compare the waste management approaches by calculating the GHG emission related to the recycling and disposal of wastes from cradle to grave, and sound absorption properties of coconut and sugarcane fibers in composite materials. A non-toxic PVA binder was utilized to prepare samples with densities of 75, 100, and 125 kg/m3, and sound absorption was evaluated based on ISO 10534-2. The results show a cost-benefit trade-off in waste management where higher recycling reduces GHG emissions but increases costs; the Default Scenario results in the highest emissions (20,439 t CO2e/yr) at the lowest cost, and Scenario 3 results in the lowest emissions (5,148 t CO2e/yr) at the highest cost. Also, sugarcane fiber (75 kg/m³) achieved the highest absorption coefficient (0.94 at 800 Hz), while coconut fiber (125 kg/m³) reached 0.91 at 1000 Hz, making both suitable for acoustic applications, with coconut fiber excelling in mid to high frequencies and sugarcane fiber in low to mid frequencies, particularly at lower densities.

Binders play a critical role in the construction industry, especially when combined with plant-based granulates and fibers. The binder is selected based on its physical and chemical characteristics for compatibility with certain construction requirements. New market trends highlight the use of green binders that meet global sustainability targets, demonstrating a move toward greener building and environmental sustainability. This study presents a cradle-to-gate comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of synthetic binders – namely Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) and agriculture starch-based binders made from cassava, wheat, and corn. The Life Cycle Assessment was conducted using SimaPro software based on ISO 14040/14044 standards using the ReCiPe Midpoint and CML IA Baseline. The assessment is cradle-to-gate with a function unit of 1 kg for binder production. Key environmental sustainability metrics such as Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Acidification Potential (AP) are assessed to rank the binder sustainability relative to each other. The results show that synthetic binder PVA has the highest environmental impact in almost all impact categories, especially GWP (6.55 kg CO2 eq in ReCiPe and 6.37 kg CO2 eq in CML) and AP (0.012 kg SO2 eq in ReCiPe and 0.015 kg SO2 eq in CML). Among natural binders, Corn Starch shows the lowest environmental impact with GWP values of 0.930 kg CO2 eq (ReCiPe) and 0.896 kg CO2 eq (CML) and AP values of 0.010 kg SO2 eq (ReCiPe) and 0.016 kg SO2 eq (CML). The agricultural binders (Cassava Starch, Wheat Starch, and Corn Starch) are environmentally friendlier than the synthetic binders (PVA and CMC). Although agricultural binders carry environmental costs associated with farming operations, they have lower environmental impacts than synthetic alternatives, demonstrating their sustainability potential in binder applications.