Synthetic Biology for the development of bio-based binders for greener construction materials

The development of more sustainable construction materials is a crucial step towards the reduction of CO₂ emissions to mitigate Climate Change issues and minimise environmental impacts of the associated industries. Therefore there is growing demand for bio-based binders which are not only safer towards human and environmental health but also facilitate cleaner disposal of the construction materials and enable their compostability.

Here, we summarise the most relevant bio-based polymers and molecules with applications in the construction sector. Due to the biological nature of these materials, the existing biotechnological processes, including Synthetic Biology, for their development and production have been evaluated.