Assessing the Sustainability of Local Construction Materials in Ecuador Through an Interdisciplinary Approach

Worldwide, concrete is used as the material of choice in the construction sector. In Latin American countries, concrete is primarily used in structural elements, because it is a low-maintenance, versatile, and economical material. With its characteristics, concrete has made it possible to cover Ecuador’ housing deficit to some extent. However, this construction material does not entirely respond to the needs of local communities, who are especially concerned about the displacement of traditional techniques and the loss of cultural heritage. In Ecuador, different fiber- and earth-based materials have been used in the construction sector for a long time. These materials present different technical, environmental, social, and cultural characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the sustainability of the production of six local materials in Ecuador under three dimensions: environmental, social, and cultural, using local data. The data were collected in local production workshops, and life-cycle-based methodologies were applied. The results showed the relevance of developing regional inventories to represent the reality of production within the territory. Additionally, integrating the evaluation of environmental, social, and cultural dimensions shed light on the current situation of the building materials production sector, identifying possible trade-offs or synergies with a sustainable and interdisciplinary approach.