This study, conducted by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), investigates the barriers to adopting soil-stabilized blocks (SSBs) as a sustainable alternative to fired clay bricks (FCBs) in construction projects in Bangladesh. SSBs offer significant environmental benefits, including lower CO2 emissions and reduced air pollution, compared to FCBs, which dominate the market and contribute to severe environmental degradation. Despite supportive policies, adoption remains low. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) across 66 Upazilas in northern Bangladesh, the study evaluates the effectiveness of interventions—such as exposure programs for procurement officials and contractors, site visits, market linkage facilitation, and skills training—in increasing SSB adoption. The findings address critical information and coordination challenges in the construction sector and support the transition to greener building materials.
Researchers: Munshi Sulaiman, PhD; Rohini Kamal, PhD; Hasibul Hasan, PhD; Tasfia Mehzabin; Md. Mohsin Hossain
Partner: Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries (PEDL)
Timeline: 2024–2026
Status: Ongoing
Contact: Rohini Kamal, PhD; rohini.kamal@bracu.ac.bd
Context
Production of FCBs, predominantly by using fixed chimney bull trench kilns, is a major source of air pollution, contributing to increased CO2 emissions, health risks, and the depletion of cultivable land through topsoil degradation in Bangladesh (Pariyar, Das, & Ferdous,2013; Suresh, Kumar, Mahtta, & Sharma, 2016). Notably, over 90% of bricks used in Bangladesh are FCBs,resulting in significant air pollution and environmental degradation, with studies suggesting they account for 58% of fine particulate matter in Dhaka city (Islam, 2016; Rahman et al., 2017). SSBs, usually made from sand, cement,gravel, and subsoil, offer a cleaner and feasible alternative to traditionalFCBs. They emit significantly less CO2 and possess better absorption capacity and crushing strength (Alam, 2020). Even between the two broad categories of eco-friendly blocks, cement blocks and SSBs, the latter is found to be a much cleaner alternative in terms of climate change, ecosystem and human health effects(Dahmen et al, 2018). The study also finds water usage being marginally higher for SSBs compared to cement blocks, thus SSB is a more economically viable alternative in the context of “water-endowed” Bangladesh.
The study will investigate constraints impeding the adoption of a green technology in government procurement while there are supportive policies behind it. Specifically, it will experimentally assess the effectiveness of interventions designed to address several barriers to achieving greater usage of soil-stabilized blocks (SSBs) over fired clay bricks(FCBs) as construction material in both publicly and privately procured projects.
Objective
The primary goal of this project is to evaluate a set of interventions aimed at increasing the adoption of SSBs among contractors in the construction sector. Though the interventions are a part of the experiment design, they are intended to broadly address information and coordination challenges. By employing a randomized controlled trial (RCT), this study will measure the impact of an “exposure intervention” for the procurement officials and contractors on the adoption of SSBs and the marginal effects of site visits, market linkage and skills training for workers as added interventions.
Methodology
The research will focus on the northern region of Bangladesh and 66 Upazilas in the region where we have already identified four SSB producers as potential partners for this research. The study will utilize a randomized control trial (RCT) design with randomization done at two distinct levels – a) randomization at contractor level and b) randomization at procurement officer level.
