Abstract

As the global community faces the mounting challenges of climate change, urbanization, and resource scarcity, the construction sector emerges as a critical area for intervention due to its substantial environmental footprint. Traditional construction practices are heavily reliant on carbon-intensive materials such as cement, steel, and conventional concrete, which collectively contribute a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. This paper explores the transformative potential of low-carbon construction materials as a key enabler of sustainable building practices. It provides a comprehensive review of current innovations, material alternatives, and lifecycle assessments (LCA) of low-carbon options, including geopolymer concrete, recycled aggregates, bamboo, hempcrete, and cross-laminated timber (CLT). The study further examines the environmental, economic, and structural performance of these materials in comparison to conventional counterparts. It also discusses policy frameworks, market drivers, and technological advancements that can accelerate their adoption. Emphasis is placed on the circular economy, carbon sequestration potential, and the role of digital tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) in optimizing material efficiency and reducing embodied carbon. Finally, the paper outlines the barriers to implementation, such as regulatory inertia, lack of awareness, and supply chain limitations, and proposes strategic pathways for integrating low-carbon materials into mainstream construction practices. By promoting a shift from extractive to regenerative building models, low-carbon materials offer a viable path toward reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment, aligning construction with global sustainability and climate goals.