Study
SustainabilityNew This WeekStrong effect

Prioritizing Eco-Friendly and Local Materials in Green Building Boosts Sustainability by 54.6%

Expert consensus indicates that focusing on eco-friendly and locally sourced materials is the most impactful strategy for enhancing sustainability in green building projects.

Materials Proceedings · 2025

01

Key Findings

  • 01Eco-friendly materials were identified as the highest-weighted factor (29.5%).
  • 02Locally sourced materials were ranked as the second most important factor (25.1%).
  • 03There was strong expert consensus on the ranking of these criteria.
02

Application

Design takeaway

When designing for sustainability in the built environment, prioritize the selection of eco-friendly materials and local sourcing as primary drivers of environmental performance.

How to apply

When initiating a green building project, conduct a thorough review of material options, focusing on lifecycle assessments for eco-friendliness and mapping local supply chains for sourcing efficiency.

Project actions

  • 01When choosing materials for your design project, research their environmental impact (e.g., embodied energy, recyclability).
  • 02Investigate local suppliers and manufacturers to understand the feasibility and benefits of sourcing materials regionally.
03

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the most critical materials efficiency criteria for assessing sustainability in nature-inspired green building projects?
MethodExpert Survey and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)
ProcedureConstruction experts were surveyed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to rank the importance of various materials efficiency criteria in green building projects. Pairwise comparisons were used to determine the relative weights of factors like eco-friendly materials, local sourcing, and responsible processing.
Sample38 participants
ContextGreen building projects in South Africa, with broader applicability to the built environment.

Variables

IVMaterials efficiency criteria (e.g., eco-friendly materials, local sourcing, responsible processing).
DVRanked importance/weighting of materials efficiency criteria for sustainability assessment.
CVExpert opinions, context of green building projects, nature-inspired framework.
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Utilizes a robust methodology (AHP) for expert-driven prioritization.
  • +Focuses on a critical aspect of sustainability (materials efficiency) within a relevant domain (built environment).
  • +Draws inspiration from nature (biomimicry) for a holistic approach.

Limitations

The availability and cost of eco-friendly and local materials can be a significant constraint in real-world design projects.

Reliability & validity

Reliability is supported by the strong expert consensus (CR = 0.01) in the AHP. Validity is enhanced by focusing on a specific, measurable aspect of sustainability (materials efficiency) within a defined context (green building).

Think critically

To what extent can the principles of nature-inspired sustainability assessment, particularly regarding material efficiency, be universally applied across diverse industries and geographical regions?

05

Design Principles

"Material selection should be guided by a dual focus on inherent environmental impact and logistical footprint."

This insight provides a clear directive for design and construction professionals, highlighting where to concentrate efforts for maximum environmental benefit. By understanding the weighted importance of material choices, teams can make more informed decisions that align with sustainability goals and potentially reduce environmental impact.

06

What This Means for Your Design

For green buildings, picking materials that are good for the environment and come from nearby places is the most important thing to do to make them sustainable.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when justifying your material choices based on environmental impact and sourcing location.
  • 2.Use the findings to inform your criteria for evaluating alternative materials in your design process.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2025). Developing a Nature-Inspired Sustainability Assessment Tool: The Role of Materials Efficiency. Materials Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2025022003 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/c18702e1-3437-4023-a43d-37ce1458540f/prioritizing-eco-friendly-and-local-materials-in-green-building-boosts-sustainability-by-54-6

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical role of materials efficiency in achieving sustainability within the built environment. Specifically, the study found that 'eco-friendly materials' and 'locally sourced materials' were the most significant factors, accounting for over half of the prioritized criteria (54.6%). This suggests that design projects aiming for environmental responsibility should place a strong emphasis on selecting materials with low environmental impact and prioritizing local supply chains to minimize transportation-related emissions and support regional economies.

09

Source

Materials Proceedings

Developing a Nature-Inspired Sustainability Assessment Tool: The Role of Materials Efficiency

journal · 2025

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about prioritizing eco-friendly and local materials in green building boosts sustainability by 54.6%?
When designing for sustainability in the built environment, prioritize the selection of eco-friendly materials and local sourcing as primary drivers of environmental performance. Evidence: Materials Proceedings (2025).
Why does "Prioritizing Eco-Friendly and Local Materials in Green Building Boosts Sustainability by 54.6%" matter for design?
This insight provides a clear directive for design and construction professionals, highlighting where to concentrate efforts for maximum environmental benefit. By understanding the weighted importance of material choices, teams can make more informed decisions that align with sustainability goals and potentially reduce environmental impact.
How can designers apply this research?
When designing for sustainability in the built environment, prioritize the selection of eco-friendly materials and local sourcing as primary drivers of environmental performance.
What were the main findings?
Eco-friendly materials were identified as the highest-weighted factor (29.5%).. Locally sourced materials were ranked as the second most important factor (25.1%).. There was strong expert consensus on the ranking of these criteria.
What research method was used?
Expert Survey and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with 38 participants.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Materials Proceedings.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When initiating a green building project, conduct a thorough review of material options, focusing on lifecycle assessments for eco-friendliness and mapping local supply chains for sourcing efficiency.
What are the limitations?
The study was conducted in South Africa, and the specific weighting of criteria might vary in different geographical and economic contexts. The AHP method relies on expert judgment, which can be subjective.
Is there evidence that sustainability affects design outcomes?
Experts overwhelmingly agreed that using environmentally friendly materials and sourcing them locally are the two most significant contributors to sustainability in green building. This insight provides a clear directive for design and construction professionals, highlighting where to concentrate efforts for maximum en Source: Materials Proceedings (2025).
Where does this green building research apply?
Green building projects in South Africa, with broader applicability to the built environment. It sits within sustainability research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

sustainability design research · evidence on sustainability · does sustainability improve design outcomes · green building studies for designers · sustainability and green building findings · sustainability research evidence