Multivariate environmental and social life cycle assessment of circular recycled-plastic voided slabs for data-driven sustainable construction

Abstract

The construction sector is a major contributor to climate change and resource depletion, responsible for over 36 % of global final energy use and nearly half of all raw material consumption. Addressing structural systems' environmental and social sustainability is a critical challenge for the transition toward a circular and low-carbon built environment. Among structural elements, floor slabs are particularly critical due to their intensive use of concrete and steel. This study develops an integrated, data-driven framework that combines multivariate structural modeling with environmental and social life cycle assessment (E-LCA and S-LCA), explicitly describing the methodological approach before results are introduced. Leveraging empirical data from 67 real buildings, the framework generates robust pre-dimensioning guidelines that support early-stage decision-making in sustainable construction. Results demonstrate substantial material and impact reductions: concrete and steel use decrease by 23–33 % and up to 29 %, respectively, leading to average endpoint environmental impact reductions of 25 % and global warming potential decreases of 24 %, reaching 30 % for six-meter spans. S-LCA highlights social risk reductions up to 20 % in the Workers and Local Community categories, reflecting safer and more socially responsible construction practices. By integrating advanced multivariate modeling with comprehensive life cycle assessment, this research delivers a decision-oriented tool that accelerates the adoption of circular, low-carbon construction systems. The revised abstract also highlights the policy and management implications: the findings provide actionable insights for engineers, regulators, and policymakers, supporting the development of building codes, resource-efficient design guidelines, and climate-aligned strategies for the construction sector. Ultimately, this work promotes a resilient and sustainable built environment, advancing circular economy principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).