Sustainability in Geotechnics through the Use of Environmentally Friendly Materials

Abstract

The reduction in the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources is nowadays widely recognized as a pressing need for a more sustainable society. Moreover, the increase in waste valorization and reuse of waste materials are undoubtedly important steps forward for environmental sustainability. Geotechnical design being part of typical civil engineering projects can play a major role in the sustainability of the built environment. Thus, a Special Issue was proposed focused on the use of environmentally friendly materials in geotechnical solutions, highlighting the relevance of geotechnics to reduce our carbon footprint. Their main purpose to collect and publish original research papers pointing out the use of sustainable materials in geotechnics has been achieved, through the great interest of the research community and a high number of submissions. This editorial summarizes the papers published during the 2020–2021 biennium, highlighting their main conclusions.