A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF GEOPOLYMER PRODUCTS AS SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS FOR LEED CERTIFICATION COMPLIANCE

Geopolymer binders made from alkali-activated aluminosilicate precursors such as fly ash and slag serve as technologically sound alternatives to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in sustainable construction practices. These materials use industrial byproducts as main reactants to reduce landfill waste while avoiding the calcination emissions that occur during OPC manufacturing. Life-cycle assessments show geopolymerization systems reduce embodied energy by 60–70% and CO₂-equivalent emissions by 80–90% compared to OPC systems while delivering superior mechanical strength (≥70 MPa compressive strength) and chemical durability in sulfate/chloride environments and fire resistance (structural integrity retention >1200°C). Geopolymer systems have adjustable rheology and quick setting properties, which enable their use in advanced applications such as 3D-printed structural components and high-performance thermal insulation composites. The waste stream integration in these materials follows circular economy principles, which decreases abiotic resource consumption by 35–50% throughout the construction industry value chain. The industrial adoption of geopolymer materials encounters three main obstacles: the unpredictable nature of precursor materials, inconsistent curing methods and unclear regulations regarding long-term performance assessment. Geopolymers show substantial potential to meet requirements in three LEED v4.1 categories: by using waste valorization (MRc1–MRc3) to earn Material and Resources credits; by reducing production energy (EAc1) to earn Energy and Atmosphere credits; and by producing low VOC emissions (EQc4) to earn Indoor Environmental Quality credits. Future research should focus on three main areas: (i) machine learning-optimized mix designs for heterogeneous waste streams, (ii) accelerated carbonation testing frameworks for service life prediction, and (iii) international standard harmonization (ISO/ASTM) to promote global market penetration.