Engineered cementitious composites for a low-carbon future: A review of performance and sustainability

Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) have emerged as a promising construction material owing to their superior mechanical performance, crack control, and durability compared with conventional concrete. This review critically examines the influence of binder composition, fibre type, and supplementary cementitious materials on the fresh, mechanical, durability, and sustainability performance of ECC. The performance of binary, ternary, and quaternary binder systems is comparatively evaluated, highlighting the role of optimized fibre reinforcement in enhancing tensile strain capacity, ductility, and crack resistance. The review further discusses the sustainability benefits of ECC through the incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials, which reduce cement consumption, embodied energy, and carbon emissions while improving long-term durability. Overall, the findings demonstrate that appropriately designed ECC mixtures can achieve an effective balance between mechanical performance and environmental sustainability. Finally, key design implications and practical recommendations are presented to support the development of sustainable ECC for future infrastructure applications.