What is it about?
In southern Spain, the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae has become a serious environmental and economic problem, accumulating in large quantities on beaches and affecting coastal ecosystems, tourism, and fisheries. Finding sustainable ways to reuse this biomass is therefore an urgent challenge. This study explores the use of Rugulopteryx okamurae as a natural fiber in a new lightweight, soil-based construction material. The seaweed is incorporated in high proportions (20%,25% y30% by weight) into an unfired clay matrix using a simple, low-energy manufacturing process. The mechanical performance of the resulting material was evaluated through compression tests. The results show that increasing the seaweed content leads to higher compressive strength while significantly reducing material density. The developed material reaches compressive strengths suitable for non–load-bearing construction elements, such as infill walls or insulation panels, while remaining lightweight and highly bio-based. By transforming an invasive marine waste into a valuable construction resource, this research contributes to circular economy strategies and highlights the potential of bio-based materials to reduce the environmental footprint of the construction sector.
Featured Image
Photo by Danist Soh on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This work is unique because it turns a severe and growing environmental problem into a construction opportunity. Instead of treating the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae as waste, this study demonstrates that it can be incorporated in large proportions into a lightweight, unfired earthen construction material using a simple, low-energy process. The timing is especially relevant, as coastal regions are urgently seeking circular economy solutions to manage invasive biomass while reducing the environmental footprint of the construction sector. Unlike previous studies that use small amounts of fibers or processed seaweed derivatives, this research shows that high seaweed contents can improve mechanical performance while lowering material density. By linking invasive species management with sustainable building materials, this work opens new pathways for waste valorization, local resource use, and low-carbon construction, with potential implications for policy, coastal management, and eco-innovative building practices.
Perspectives
Writing this article has been especially meaningful because it brings together a long-standing interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers in engineering, architecture, and applied economics. It reflects a shared interest in finding practical solutions to real environmental and social challenges. Beyond the technical results, this work has opened conversations with practitioners, local stakeholders, and initiatives concerned with invasive species management and sustainable construction. It has reinforced the idea that research can serve as a bridge between environmental problems and tangible, locally grounded solutions. I hope this article encourages readers to see invasive biomass not only as an ecological threat, but also as an opportunity for innovation, circular economy practices, and more responsible ways of building. Ultimately, my aim is that this research inspires further collaboration between science, policy, and society.
PhD in Economic, Business and Social Sciences Sandra Liliana Mogollón León
Universidad de Sevilla
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mechanical Properties of a New Lightweight Soil-Based Construction Material Incorporating Invasive
Rugulopteryx okamurae
Seaweed, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, January 2026, ASTM International,
DOI: 10.1520/jte20240562.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
