Experimental studies on environmental constraints and remedial measures for environmental sustainability: A review

• High-volume fly ash concrete (HVFAC) incorporating silica fume and superplasticizer significantly improves strength, stiffness, and microstructural density at 10–30 % replacement levels. • Recycled plastic bottle flakes (PBFs) reduce cement consumption and divert waste plastics, while maintaining acceptable performance for non-structural applications. • Non-destructive tests (UPV and rebound hammer) confirm that HVFAC–PBF composites retain good internal quality and surface hardness across all curing ages. • Eco-friendly masonry alternatives and GFRP reinforcement reduce deforestation, corrosion-related failures, and life-cycle environmental impacts. • Integrated water conservation strategies—including micro-irrigation and rainwater harvesting—strengthen sustainability links across both construction and agricultural sectors. The construction industry faces escalating environmental pressures driven by high cement consumption, rising CO₂ emissions, growing plastic pollution, freshwater scarcity, and long-term durability concerns. This review presents an integrated framework that links these global environmental constraints with sustainable construction innovations, including supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), recycled plastic aggregates, high-range water-reducing admixtures, corrosion-resistant reinforcement, eco-friendly masonry alternatives, and large-scale environmental management practices. High-volume fly ash concrete (HVFAC) incorporating processed fly ash, silica fume, and superplasticizers demonstrates significant improvements in strength, stiffness, and microstructural refinement, with optimal performance observed at 10–30 % fly ash replacement. Recycled plastic bottle flakes (PBFs), while reducing mechanical strength due to weak interfacial bonding, remain viable for non-structural and lightweight applications when integrated with SCMs. Non-destructive tests, including rebound hammer and ultrasonic pulse velocity assessments, confirm the internal integrity and surface quality of these sustainable mixtures. Beyond materials, the study addresses deforestation from brick kilns, steel corrosion, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss in reservoir catchments, emphasizing the need for holistic approaches that unify material innovation with ecosystem protection. Eco-friendly bricks, glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement, rainwater harvesting, and micro-irrigation serve as complementary strategies to reduce environmental burdens across the construction and agricultural sectors. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that integrating SCMs, waste-derived components, admixtures, and eco-conscious design principles provides a viable pathway toward low-carbon, resource-efficient, and durable infrastructure systems. The review concludes with recommendations for future research focused on interface engineering, durability validation, life-cycle assessment, and cross-sectoral sustainability planning.