Carbon-Negative Building Material Developed That Pulls CO₂ from the Air

Engineers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have developed a groundbreaking new building material called enzymatic structural material (ESM) that removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it produces — made using an enzyme that turns carbon dioxide into solid minerals, cures in hours, and is strong, repairable, and fully recyclable. Beyond standard construction, the material could support affordable housing, climate-resilient infrastructure, and disaster recovery efforts, with lightweight components that can be produced quickly to speed rebuilding after extreme weather events — a particularly relevant development for Oregon and Washington builders navigating increasingly challenging climate conditions.

Source: ScienceDaily / Worcester Polytechnic Institute Read the full story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260121034148.htm