Exploring technologies for sustainable product development

Sustainable Acoustic Composite Board Using Rice Stubble and Epoxy Resin Binder

The Acoustic Composite Board with Epoxy Resin Binder has been developed as a value-added product for the sustainable utilization of agricultural and packaging waste. The board is manufactured using rice stubble, thermocol, and commercial epoxy resin with hardener, where epoxy resin acts as the principal binding material and provides strength, dimensional stability, and durability to the composite structure. The developed composition consists of approximately 150 g of rice stubble, 2 g of thermocol, 150 g of epoxy resin, and 75 g of hardener. The porous structure of the agricultural residue-based composite helps in absorbing sound and reducing noise, echo, and reverberation, making it suitable for applications in offices, classrooms, auditoriums, studios, residential spaces, and other indoor environments. The product also creates an opportunity for the productive utilization of paddy stubble, thereby supporting waste reduction, sustainable material development, and environmentally responsible interior solutions. The approximate manufacturing cost is INR 1,000 per board, excluding labour charges.

Acoustic Board with White Cement as Binder

The Acoustic Board with White Cement as Binder is an eco-friendly sound-absorbing product developed using agricultural and recycled waste materials. The board is manufactured mainly from rice stubble, recycled egg-tray material, thermocol particles, and white cement, creating a lightweight and functional panel suitable for indoor acoustic applications. In the developed composition, approximately 300 g of stubble, 150 g of egg-tray material, 100 g of thermocol, and a small quantity of white cement are used as the primary constituents. The manufacturing process follows a hot-pressing approach, which helps compact and bond the materials into a stable board structure. When installed on walls or ceilings, the board helps reduce unwanted noise, reverberation, and echo, thereby improving acoustic comfort and speech clarity within enclosed spaces. The product also promotes the productive utilization of agricultural residue and recycled materials, contributing to sustainable waste management and reducing dependence on conventional acoustic materials. It can be used in classrooms, offices, auditoriums, studios, conference rooms, residential interiors, and commercial spaces. The approximate prototype cost is ₹700, excluding labour charges, making it a potentially affordable, sustainable, and practical solution for interior noise-control applications while supporting circular material use and environmentally responsible product development for modern building interiors worldwide.

Stubble Manure

Stubble Manure is an eco-friendly organic soil-enrichment product developed by utilizing agricultural crop residue along with naturally available animal and poultry wastes. The formulation uses approximately 4 kg of stubble, 8 kg of cow dung, 1.5 kg of organic manure, 8 litres of cow urine, and 2 kg of poultry waste. These materials are mixed and allowed to undergo controlled biological decomposition so that the stubble gradually converts into nutrient-rich organic manure. Cow dung and cow urine support microbial activity and accelerate decomposition, while poultry waste contributes additional nitrogen and other essential nutrients. The developed manure can improve soil fertility, organic carbon content, moisture-holding capacity, soil structure, and microbial activity, thereby supporting healthier plant growth. This approach also provides a sustainable method for managing crop stubble and helps reduce the environmental problems associated with open-field residue burning. The product can be used in agricultural fields, kitchen gardens, nurseries, landscaping, and urban farming applications. It promotes the concept of waste-to-resource conversion and sustainable agriculture by transforming low-value agricultural and livestock residues into a useful soil amendment. The approximate production cost is ₹500, excluding labour charges.

Composite Brick from Stubble and Wastage of Clay Brick

Composite Brick from Stubble and Wastage of Clay Brick is a sustainable construction product developed by combining agricultural stubble, waste clay brick particles, and cement. The main objective of this product is to utilize agricultural and construction waste effectively and convert it into a useful building material. In the developed composition, approximately 800 g of cement, 650 g of crushed waste clay brick, and 50 g of stubble are mixed thoroughly and compacted into the required brick shape. Cement acts as the primary binding material, while crushed clay brick waste provides bulk, rigidity, and structural stability. The addition of stubble promotes the productive utilization of agricultural residue and offers a potential alternative to its open-field burning. At the same time, the reuse of discarded clay bricks helps reduce construction waste and the consumption of conventional raw materials. After appropriate strength and durability evaluation, the developed composite brick may be considered for non-load-bearing walls, partitions, landscaping, and other low-load construction applications. The product promotes waste recycling, resource conservation, sustainable construction, and environmentally responsible stubble management. The approximate development cost of one composite brick is ₹70.

Stubble–Cast Iron Slag Composite Brick for Sustainable Construction

Stubble–Cast Iron Slag Composite Brick for Sustainable Construction is an innovative building material developed by utilizing agricultural stubble, cast iron (C.I.) slag, soil, and cement. The objective of this product is to convert agricultural and industrial waste materials into a useful, value-added construction product while reducing dependence on conventional raw materials. In the developed composition, approximately 700 g of cement, 750 g of C.I. slag, and 150 g of stubble are used. Cement acts as the primary binding material, while cast iron slag contributes to the bulk, rigidity, and structural characteristics of the brick. The incorporation of stubble provides a sustainable method for utilizing crop residue that would otherwise be discarded or burned in open fields. The proposed composite brick supports the principles of waste recycling, resource conservation, circular economy, and sustainable construction by simultaneously utilizing agricultural and industrial by-products. Subject to appropriate testing for compressive strength, water absorption, durability, and long-term performance, the developed brick may be suitable for non-load-bearing walls, partitions, landscaping, and other low-load construction applications. The approximate manufacturing cost of the developed brick is ₹100.

Cement–Stubble Bricks

Cement–Stubble Bricks have been developed as an environmentally responsible construction material by partially incorporating agricultural stubble into conventional cement bricks. The objective is to utilize crop residue productively while reducing its disposal through open-field burning and promoting sustainable building practices. For comparison, a pure cement brick was found to have a weight of 2.390 kg and a density of 1.633 g/cm³. After incorporating 11% stubble, the developed cement–stubble brick exhibited a reduced weight of 2.330 kg, representing an approximately 2.5% reduction in brick weight, while its measured density was 1.707 g/cm³. The incorporation of stubble provides an effective route for converting agricultural waste into a value-added construction product. The comparatively lower weight can contribute to easier handling and transportation, while the use of stubble can reduce dependence on conventional raw materials. Since the bricks can be manufactured without a conventional high-temperature firing process, the technology also has potential for reducing energy consumption during production. Cement–stubble bricks may be considered for non-load-bearing walls, partition walls, backing masonry, landscaping, and other suitable low-load construction applications, subject to confirmation of their required mechanical strength, durability, water absorption, and thermal properties.

Sustainable Cement–Stubble Pavement and Parking Floor Tiles

Cement–Stubble Pavement and Parking Floor Tiles have been developed as an eco-friendly construction material by incorporating 11 vol.% agricultural stubble into a cement-based matrix. Conventional pavement and parking tiles generally require a considerable quantity of cement, whose production is associated with high energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions. Partial incorporation of stubble provides a productive route for utilizing agricultural residue while reducing dependence on conventional construction materials. The developed tiles have dimensions of approximately 30 × 30 × 2.5 cm and a measured density of about 1.68 g/cm³. The addition of stubble contributes to lightweight construction, easier handling, and potentially lower transportation requirements. The manufacturing process is comparatively simple and does not require conventional high-temperature brick-firing operations, offering additional opportunities for energy conservation. These tiles are intended for applications such as pavement areas, pedestrian pathways, parking spaces, landscaping, non-heavy-traffic flooring, and other suitable outdoor surfaces. The technology also supports sustainable crop-residue management by converting stubble into a value-added construction product rather than allowing it to be openly burned. With further evaluation of compressive strength, abrasion resistance, water absorption, durability, and long-term field performance, cement–stubble tiles have promising potential for sustainable and resource-efficient infrastructure development.

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