Integrating Sustainable Construction Materials into Cost Estimation: A Review of Long-Term Economic Benefits and Automation Opportunities

Sustainable construction materials have become increasingly critical in modern construction due to their capacity to reduce environmental footprints and enhance building energy efficiency, thereby contributing significantly to climate change mitigation. Despite growing awareness of these ecological benefits, their adoption remains limited, largely due to high upfront costs and the lack of comprehensive tools and methodologies for evaluating their long-term economic and environmental performance.Current cost estimation methods typically focus on initial capital expenditures, often neglecting operational costs, energy consumption, maintenance, and end-of-life impacts—factors essential for assessing true sustainability throughout a building’s lifecycle. This gap hinders informed decision-making by architects, engineers, and construction companies striving to implement circular economy principles and bio-based solutions in the built environment.This article reviews existing approaches and challenges related to integrating sustainable construction materials into cost estimation processes, highlighting opportunities for enhancing long-term economic efficiency alongside environmental benefits. It discusses methodologies that can support comparative analysis between conventional and sustainable materials and emphasizes the need for developing more transparent, data-driven frameworks to inform stakeholders.By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying research gaps, this review supports transformative resilience pathways toward climate-neutral and circular economies and aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).Ultimately, this work contributes to advancing industrial ecology and eco-design practices in construction, promoting innovation strategies that balance economic feasibility with ecological sustainability.