E – 3057 Sustainable Materials: Recycling, Upcycling, and Circular Economy Approaches

This online course provides a comprehensive understanding of environmentally responsible material selection, use, and reuse.

The engineering profession is increasingly shaped by the urgent need to mitigate environmental degradation, resource depletion, and climate instability. Traditional material choices in engineering, especially in sectors like civil, structural, and mechanical engineering, have long prioritized mechanical performance and economic cost over environmental consequences. This course addresses the environmental challenges associated with conventional materials, and explores emerging material systems that support sustainable infrastructure, such as thermoelectric converters, passive phase-change systems, biopolymers, and carbon-capturing concretes. In addition, the course introduces regulatory frameworks, lifecycle assessment (LCA) tools, and performance testing standards that ensure sustainability compliance in engineering practice.

This course is applicable to civil, structural, mechanical, and environmental engineers, as well as professionals who are interested in learning more about the lifecycle of engineering materials and how to addresses their environmental challenges.