Overview

• The mix uses only cardboard, soil and water, creating recyclable structural elements made on site using lightweight formwork.
• Lifecycle analysis estimates a full‑size column at 17.41 kgCO2e, 77.7% lower than ordinary concrete and 38.6% below cement‑stabilised rammed earth.
• Cost modeling puts a CCRE column at A$17.68 over its life cycle, a 63.9% reduction versus concrete columns.
• Lab‑made cylinders—20 cm spiral‑wound tubes with 1–4 mm walls—were compacted and dried 28 days before compression tests showed strength adequate for low‑rise load‑bearing use, though below typical concrete.
• The team derived a thickness‑to‑strength design formula, highlighted on‑site fabrication benefits for remote areas, and noted a separate carbon‑fiber confinement study reaching strengths comparable to high‑performance concrete.