Construction is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, so finding new materials and methods is a crucial goal. Researchers at Flinders University have now developed a new type of polymer, made out of industrial waste, that can be formed into building bricks that bond together without needing any mortar.

Concrete is an extremely versatile material, but the production of cement is alone responsible for as much as 8% of all carbon dioxide emissions caused by humans. That huge footprint could be reduced by finding ways to incorporate waste materials like wood or old tires into the mix, using different binders, or developing alternative materials entirely.

The new study explores one such alternative. The team had previously developed polymers made mostly of sulfur left over from industrial processes, which could be used to capture heavy metal pollution or for more sustainable fertilizers. Now, these polymers have been put to work as more environmentally friendly building blocks.