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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge the efforts of each and every person who has lent his/her invaluable
support in this project. In particular we are indebted to our principal for giving us the
prestigious opportunity to participate in the Senior Bal vigyan 2024-25.

In addition to that, we are extremely grateful towards our teachers Ms. Rajshri Kabra,
Ms. Richa Bajpai, Ms. Nandita Mishra and Ms. Priyanka Patodi for their guidance and
appropriate suggestions at every step of the way.

We also extend a heartfelt gratitude to anyone who helped us for the success of this
project.

Lastly, we'd like to thank our parents, our families and all of the others who put up with
our complications and respected our work by helping us whenever they could.

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 INTRODUCTION
➢ The Earth is blessed with an abundance of natural resources such as air, wind, soil,
water, forests, flora, and fauna, which have supported human civilization for
thousands of years. However, with the rapid rise of industrialization and usage of
resources indiscriminately by humans, these resources are seriously threatened.
Vital resources like water, mineral deposits, and fossil fuels are now being
overexploited to such an extent that they could be entirely depleted in the near
future.

➢ Water table depletion is a growing concern in many regions due to factors such as
urbanisation, excessive water extraction, and climate change.

 By incorporating permeable materials into our infrastructure, we can help to

mitigate this issue and ensure a more sustainable and resilient water supply.
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  Roughly 80% of India’s residents are totally dependent on groundwater for various
purposes ranging from irrigation to drinking water. With the water levels dropping,
and the demand for water rising, the threat of overwhelmingly high-water prices is
lingering over us. India being an agro-based economy, requires 78% of its water
resources solely for the purpose of farming. The continually falling water levels
jeopardise the livelihoods of 148 million people employed by the agricultural
sector.

➢ While traditional cement-based construction materials have been the cornerstone of

modern infrastructure, their production and use often come with significant
environmental drawbacks, such as carbon emissions and resource depletion. One
promising avenue for sustainable construction lies in the development of
environment friendly and low-cost materials.

➢ By investing in research and development, we can identify and implement

materials that offer comparable performance to traditional options while
minimising their negative environmental impact.
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 ➢ Through this, we can identify and implement sustainable materials that offer
comparable performance to traditional options while decreasing their negative
environmental impact. This will not only contribute to a more sustainable future
but also provide opportunities for economic growth and job creation. Such
materials can offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional
materials. It is however important to note that we can’t fully replace the use of
cement, at this stage of our research, but we can still try and minimise it to the best
of our ability.

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AIM & UTILITY
We aim to create sustainable and durable material that
minimises environmental impact while enhancing structural
integrity. By combining renewable resources, waste products
and other biotic components, we aim to revolutionise the
particular sector and promote a more sustainable and
economically feasible alternative.

We want to diminish the carbon footprint and pollution brought on by the cement
industry, through sustainable and long-lasting materials, these new materials will be able
to decrease the demand for cement-based products with huge footprints in the terms of
production and transportation. We could then produce materials that are not only
sustainable but also strong and durable.

We envision a world where no person has to worry

about the availability of water for tomorrow. By
incorporating the materials which allow water
percolation in a certain sector, we can significantly
enhance the infiltration of rainwater into the
ground, thereby improving the water table.

These innovative materials are designed to allow water to pass through their structure,
promoting groundwater recharge and reducing the amount of runoff that enters storm
drains or water bodies. This can help to alleviate water scarcity, mitigate the risk of
flooding, and improve the overall health of local ecosystems.

Additionally, this material can contribute to sustainable urban development by reducing

the need for extensive stormwater management infrastructure and promoting green
spaces. Moreover, we wish to reduce the financial burden by working on a material
which is not only more durable but also cost effective.

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 NEED FOR A CHANGE
● A country as large as India has a huge requirement for proper infrastructure, the
government has spent a staggering 23 lakh crore rupees on infrastructure in the
past three years but due to poor construction, environmental factors, and improper
maintenance it leaves much to be desired.

● The lack of proper path management leads to loss of life in tragic accidents,
according to WHO India has the highest number of road traffic accidents with over
150,000 deaths per year due to potholes, out of these 60% are due to poor
infrastructure such as potholes, uneven road surfaces and poor maintenance of
pavements.
● Cemented pavements and roads also pose challenges in the percolation of
rainwater into the soil, which overtime has led to significant depletion of the
groundwater levels. According to the central groundwater board 17% of
groundwater blocks in India are under threat out of these 14% are semi critical and
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 5% being critical. This is worrying news considering groundwater is the primary
source for irrigation for 60% of farmers; and the main source of drinking water for
85% of the Indian populace.

CURRENT STATUS OF WATER TABLE

● Each year, India uses up around 251 billion cubic metres of groundwater, which
accounts for more than a quarter of the global total with our ever-rising population,
this number keeps growing each year.

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 ● The day when most people will struggle to afford bare necessities like potable
water, is not very far away. According to the World Bank, India houses 18% of the
world’s population, but has only 4% of the world’s water resources. This leaves
163 million Indians lacking access to drinking water.
● Ground water, while being one of the most crucial resources for civilization, is one
of the fastest depleting sources of water. One of the most efficient ways to
replenish groundwater levels is to provide opportunities for water percolation back
into the soil.

CURRENT STATUS OF RESOURCE

MANAGEMENT

● Resource management is the sustainable management and conservation of natural

resources such as land, water, soil, plants, and animals. This is necessary to ensure
that they meet current human needs while preserving them for future generations.
This includes conservation, restoration, sustainable agriculture, and policies to
balance human demands with environmental protection and addressing
environmental concerns.

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 ● India being a swiftly developing country, has a high demand for infrastructure
development to meet its economic growth targets and population growth. Most of
this infrastructure is directed in the field of transportation. It is projected that by
2030, transport is expected to attract over 60 percent of infrastructure investment in
India.

● This massive amount of infrastructure upbuilding requires an equally massive

amount of resources and materials including concrete, steel, brick, wood and tile.
For instance, in 2022, India consumed 379 million metric tons of cement and this
number continues to grow.

● This growth however comes at a cost, the overexploitation of resources like ores,
sand extracted from river beds or through mining, fossil fuels, etc. This rapid
depletion of resources is also paired with equally fast generation of waste. With
agro-waste being a very concerning, yet lesser-known part of the problem. India
generates approximately 500 million tons of agricultural waste annually.

Much of this waste is either bagasse, which is a residue from sugarcane

processing; or wheat or soybean straw, which is the leftover stalks on the
ground after harvesting. A study has proved that 21 million tons of wheat,
equivalent to the entire production of Australia goes waste in India.

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 ENHANCING OUR KNOWLEDGE
There is no end to knowledge. Therefore, to know more about our topic we:

Conducted Surveys

Took experts advice

Experimented to
prove

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OUR SURVEYS:

To enhance our knowledge about the existing status of the factors

associated with problems we are tackling and working upon. We
took two surveys to gather on ground information.

SURVEY 1
The first survey was to identify whether the common people were aware about the
management of water resources and the status of the water table.

1. What is the main source of water in your house/building?

a) Narmada
b) Boring
c) Tanker
d) Unsure

2. Do you actively practise rainwater harvesting?

a) Yes
b) No

3. Have you heard about the decline in groundwater levels?

a) Yes
b) No

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4. Do you feel any water scarcity in your township during the summer months?
a) Yes
b) No

Survey with colony residents

What is the main source of water in your

95% 45% house/building?: 45% of people said
borewell.
Do you actively practice rain water
harvesting?: Only 30% of people said yes.

Have you heard about the recent decline in

groundwater level?: 35% said yes

Do you feel any water scarcity in the

35% 30% summer days?: Only 95% said yes.

This survey highlighted the decreasing groundwater level in our city and how it
has been affecting the people.

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SURVEY 2:

We conducted a survey with officials of a society to

know about the maintenance and cost of the pavements
placed in the society

1. How often have the pavements of this area been changed in the past 10 years?
Ans) Most of the people answered 5-7 years.

2. What is the cost of maintaining these roads and pavements in your society?
Ans) ₹50,000 to 75,00,000 per annum for 200 m2

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3. What according to you is costlier for the maintenance of pavements and other such
constructions?
a) Raw materials
b) Labour
c) Other/Cannot say

4. Are you aware of the environmental consequences of acquiring these raw materials?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Somewhat aware

5.Which of the following characteristics would you want in a brick alternative?

a) More economical
b) Low maintenance
c) Resource efficient
d) All of the above

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 Survey analysis

[CATEGORY
NAME]

[CATEGORY
NAME]

[CATEGORY
NAME]

Over 50% of people termed raw materials the most expensive part of maintainence

Over 30% of people said they were aware of the environmental consequences of aquiring these raw
materials
Over 90% of people said they wanted cheaper, more resource efficient and low maintainence
alternative

This survey highlighted the need

 for pocket friendly,
 more sustainable
 easier to maintain materials.

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INTERVIEWS

The steppingstone to a
revolutionary tomorrow is
to first analyse the
problem. We interviewed
various experts related to
our topic.

1. INTERACTION WITH MR. SUSHIL SINGH, CIVIL

ENGINEER (3 OCTOBER 2024)
RD

To gather more knowledge about

our topic we planned to interview
Mr. Sushil Singh a civil engineer
who could open us up to the
adverse aspects of using
cemented pavements.

He shared with us his valuable

inputs on various challenges
brought on using cemented
pavers such as; the high
requirement of maintenance,
financial burden for the people
involved and the harsh effects on the environment. He helped us gain knowledge about
the feasibility of our project, acquainting us with prospects of our project.
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Past challenges

While collecting on ground information through surveys and interviews as well as

during research, we came across a wide array of problems in existing materials
used in our day to day lives.

CONVENTIONAL PAVEMENT BRICK

➢ Traditionally pavement bricks are mainly made of cement and some amounts of
other materials are also added. In India alone, approximately 298 million tons of
cement is produced each year to meet the ever-increasing demands for
infrastructure development, which includes laying roads, construction of buildings
or for making houses.

➢I
n

o
r
d
e
r

t
o

p
r
o
d
u
c
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 e cement on such a large scale, massive amounts of raw materials like limestone,
clay and water are required. Obtaining and processing these materials into cement
is an energy intensive process which uses fossil fuels like coal and petroleum to
heat the limestone.

➢ This industry is also water intensive, accounting for 10% of global industrial water
use. Moreover, the cement industry is responsible for up to 5% of worldwide man-
made CO2 emissions.

➢ To make matters worse, cement tiles also

do not allow water percolation into the
soil which is alarming, considering the
already dwindling water table levels of
India.

➢ While cement is essential for the

infrastructural development of any
country and may provide certain benefits,
the long term, unregulated overuse of such
a material can have environmental,
economic and social consequences.
.

Keeping in mind the shortcomings of the traditional cement brick, we

researched about the other available alternatives which would have
lesser negative impact on the environment and on the pocket. We
named it as the pseudo brick.

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PSEUDO BRICK

MATERIAL REQUIRED:
● Sugarcane bagasse,

● wheat and soya bean waste

● cement

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  India is a major producer of wheat. With the large production, comes a large
amount of waste generated. A study has proved that 21 million tons of
wheat, equivalent to the entire production of Australia goes waste in India.

 Soya bean is an abundant crop, especially in Madhya Pradesh (largest

producer). Like most other crops, a large amount of soya bean waste is
discarded without major use in India.

PROCEDURE:

 The preparation of the pseudo brick is as follows –

■ Burn some amount of sugarcane bagasse, soybean and wheat waste
till it reduces to ash. (The continuously growing biogas industry also
produces the ashes of the same organic materials as a byproduct of the
energy production process. So, for large-scale implementation these
ashes can be sourced from such plants.)
■ Mix the burnt waste with the unburnt sugarcane bagasse. Add a
certain amount of cement. Add water to the mixture and combine it
thoroughly
■ Pour the mixture into a mould and let it set for 3-7 days. The next time
you see it, you’ll find the pseudo-brick ready.

This pseudo-brick allows the water to percolate and act as a perfect medium for
water to reach beneath the roads. The brick has more porosity on account of its
composition being made up of mostly agricultural waste. The bricks also offer
moderate strength.

But this brick also had its fair share of drawbacks-

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 Easily
degradable

Drawbacks

Has a high Requires

requirement for regular
labour, time, repairs
and money

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 OUR SOLUTION

After going through several possible alternatives all with

their problems, in our quest to find the ideal brick we encountered something remarkable,
some fascinating bacteria that checked off all our boxes. These bacteria lead to the
creation of our best alternative, The Self- healing brick.

MICRO-MENDING BRICK
(M~2 BRICK)
.The bacteria researched were Bacillus pseudofirmus, Bacillus halodurans, Bacillus
subtilis and Bacillus Pasteurii, to name a few. They possess certain characteristics that
can be used to make self-healing cement with no human intervention required. By
treating our existing pseudo-brick with such bacteria and adding certain other substances,
we formed a brick which is not only resource efficient, economical, and environment
friendly, but also self-healing. We named this feat, the M~2 brick

B. subtilis B. pseudofirmus
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ABOUT THE BACTERIA

The M~2 brick contains bacteria of the bacillus

family such as Bacillus pseudofirmus, Bacillus
halodurans, Sporacina pasteurii and Bacillus subtilis.
These aerobic bacteria are alkaliphiles that grow in
the pH range of 7.5-11.4. These bacteria are ureolytic
in nature and precipitate calcium carbonate through
the process of urea hydrolysis.

SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLE
➢ The bacteria will be incorporated in our brick by encapsulation in gelatine or
polyurethane. When a crack develops in the brick, it allows water seepage into the
space and this results in the rupturing of the capsule, which releases the endospores
into the environment. These bacteria get favourable conditions to fill up these
cracks with calcium carbonate, effectively healing the crack.

⮚ This process is called MICP (Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation) which is a

type of bio cementation process where bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus
pseudofirmus, Bacillus halodurans and Bacillus pasteurii, etc. precipitate calcium
carbonate into their environment as a result of their metabolic activities.

➢ This process can be completed in time as little as a couple of days if provided with
favourable conditions, making MICP an extremely efficient and time saving
process.

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BIOCHEMISTRY BEHIND HEALING

For the bio-cementation process these bacteria perform the organic chemical reaction
urea hydrolysis.

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UREA HYDROLYSIS

The enzyme urease (urea amidohydrolase) is released by these bacteria under suitable
conditions. This enzyme acts as a catalyst for the hydrolysis of urea (CO(NH₂)₂) present
in the environment, and decomposes it into ammonia (NH₃) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
ammonia further dissociates into ammonium (NH₄⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻) causing
oxidation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbonate ions (CO₃²⁻). In the presence of calcium
ions (Ca²⁺), the carbonate ions react to form calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), which
precipitates as calcite. The newly formed calcium carbonate is deposited between the
cracks, improving the structural integrity of the brick.

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 HOW WE MADE THE M~2 BRICK
Organic Ingredients: The M~2 brick utilises a blend of organic ingredients,
including bagasse, soybean, and wheat waste. These materials are selected
for their sustainability, abundance, and potential contribution to the brick's
structural properties.

Bagasse soyabean waste wheat husk

Ash Production: The organic ingredients are

incinerated to produce their respective ashes,
which serve as a porous and absorbent base
material for the brick.

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 Preparation of bacterial culture: A specific strain of bacteria, such as
Bacillus subtilis, is introduced into the nutrient medium and allowed to
multiply.

Encapsulation of Bacteria in Gelatine: Once required volume of bacteria

is acquired it is transferred to gelatine capsules for inculcation into the M~2
brick.

Encapsulating bacteria in gelatine capsule Adding capsule while preparing the brick

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 Setting Period: The brick is allowed to cure for 48 hours, during
which the bacteria establish themselves within the brick matrix.

UNIQUE FEATURES OF M~2 BRICK

➢ When these bacteria are applied to a brick made of bagasse and husk, the
biomineralization process improves its strength, and provides self-healing
capabilities.
➢ The M~2 brick is majorly composed of the same materials as the pseudo-brick but
has been treated with ureolytic bacteria and has a source of urea, which in our case
is cow dung. (It is cheap and easily available in all parts of India. We propose to
use this in our M~2 brick as a source of urea.)

By harnessing the power of renewable resources, waste products and natural bacteria, these
materials contribute to a more environmentally responsible and resilient solution, as
research and development in this field progresses, we can expect even greater advancements
in sustainable building materials and practices.

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 EXPERIMENTING TO PROVE

PHYSICAL TESTING
EXPERIMENT 1:
OBJECTIVE: To check the porosity of M~2 Bricks
PROCEDURE:
•Take three containers with 1000 ml of water each.
•Put the three bricks (the cement brick, the pseudo brick and the M~2 brick) in each
container
•Keep it for two hours
•Measure the volume of water left in the three containers
Hence the volume of water absorbed in all the three type bricks can be compared

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CONCLUSION: Our test for porosity was successful as we found out that the material
used to make the M~2 brick acts as a balanced medium for water to reach beneath the
pavements on account of its comparatively.

M~2 brick Pseudo brick Traditional cement brick

32 | P a g e
EXPERIMENT 2:
OBJECTIVE: To test the strength of M~2.

PROCEDURE: To test the strength of the bricks we applied the pressure with weights
and light vehicles.

CONCLUSION: Upon experimentation we found the brick to be strong with the capacity
to withstand a certain amount of pressure.

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BIOCHEMICAL TESTING

EXPERIMENT 1

OBJECTIVE: To test the emission of calcium carbonate

THEORY: The calcium ions react with the carbonate ions to form calcium carbonate
(CaCO₃), which precipitates out of the solution. This solid formation can be collected
and measured to determine the rate and amount of calcium carbonate emission or
production.

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PROCEDURE:

Dissolve a small amount of urea in distilled water in a

beaker.

Introduce the urease enzyme into the urea solution.

This starts the breakdown of urea into ammonia and carbonate

ions. You can monitor this by measuring the pH of the solution,
as ammonia will increase the pH (make it more basic).

After adding the calcium chloride, you should observe a white, chalky precipitate
of calcium carbonate forming in the solution. This shows that the reaction is
occurring.

(Calcium ions from CaCl₂ will react with the carbonate ions produced from the
urea breakdown to form calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), which will precipitate out
as a solid.)

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 To measure the amount of calcium carbonate formed, you can filter the solution
through filter paper using a funnel. The calcium carbonate will collect on the paper
as a solid.

By adjusting the concentrations of urea, urease, and calcium ions, you can track
how these changes affect the amount of calcium carbonate produced.

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OBSERVATIONS:

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 MYTH BUSTED
Q. How do we know that the bacteria we are using isn’t pathogenic ?

Ans. While some bacteria of the Bacillus family are pathogenic, extensive
research has been conducted on the particular bacteria we are using, and they are
not hazardous to humans, animals or plants in any shape or form. As a matter of
fact, one of the bacteria we are using, Bacillus Subtilis is naturally present in
gastrointestinal tracts of animals

Q. Does this harm the soil quality?

No, these bacteria do not degrade the soil quality. Soil acidification is already a
concern in the country, affecting about 48 million hectares (mha) out of 142 mha
of arable land.
These bacteria performs urea hydrolysis and releases ammonia as one of the
byproducts which can help neutralize the soil pH. So it is actually helpful in
improving the soil quality!

Q. How will these bacteria survive when they are not in use?

The Bacillus species of bacteria are known for their highly adaptive nature. They
are naturally found in a wide range of environmental conditions, which means
they can withstand extremely high temperatures ( add temp), alkalinity and lack
of nutrients. Some species' spores have been reported to survive for thousands of
years under the right conditions. This is because they form endospores, which are
highly resistant to unfavourable environmental conditions. These endospores are
tough, nonreproductive structures which consist of the core, which contains the
DNA, ribosomes and enzymes ; the cortex; and the spore coat. Upon receiving
favourable conditions, these endospores quickly turn into vegetative cells and
perform urea hydrolysis.
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Q. India has extremely varied climatic conditions, including extremely high
temperatures, how will these conditions affect these bacteria ?

The Bacillus species is especially known for their ability to adapt to different
conditions easily. The bacteria we are using can survive harsh climatic conditions
and temperatures reaching up to 50 degree celsius. Moreover, they can also form
endospores, which can protect these from harsh conditions.

39 | P a g e
 COST EFFECTIVENESS

M-2 brick offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional bricks, such as
fired clay bricks and cement blocks. The initial production costs will also be significantly
less due to the usage of waste and natural materials such as eggshells and coconut husk,
the long-term benefits in terms of durability, maintenance, and energy efficiency makes
M-2 bricks a more economical choice over the lifetime of a project.
Cost of making 50 M2 Bricks (4”x4”x8”) = Rs175 (per brick – Rs3.5) (add cost of
sourcing culture of bacteria)

Cost of making 50 Red Bricks (4”x4”x8”) = Rs300 (per brick – Rs6)

Cost of making 50 Cement Bricks (4”x4”x8”) = Rs375 (per brick –

Rs7.5)
Materials used in M-2 bricks require less energy to process compared to extracting and
refining raw materials for traditional bricks, using locally sourced natural materials will
significantly reduce transportation costs and associated energy consumption. A simplified
manufacturing process involving less complex machinery and equipment can hence
deteriorate significant costs such as energy and manpower from the textile industry.

Gelatin: Bulk gelatin can cost around 100-200 rupees per kilogram, so a small portion per
brick could cost about 0.5 rupees.
Bacteria: Culturing bacteria in-house costs around 0.2 rupees per brick. Sourcing
specialised strains might raise this cost, so in-house culturing is likely more cost-
effective.

40 | P a g e
Cow Dung: Often inexpensive or even free from local farms. Around 0.3 rupees per brick
for cow dung.
Waste Materials: If locally sourced, low-cost waste (like agricultural or industrial waste)
is used, these might only cost around 0.2 rupees per brick.
Eggshells: Eggshells are typically a by-product and often cost-free or minimal if bought
in bulk. Assume a cost of 0.1 rupees per brick.
Adding these up:
• Gelatin: 0.5 rupees
• Bacteria: 0.2 rupees
• Cow Dung: 0.3 rupees
• Waste: 0.2 rupees
• Eggshells: 0.1 rupees
Hence the cost of making a singular M-2 brick is Rs 3.5.

41 | P a g e
 OUR SUGGESTION
The implementation of M-2 brick in real-world building structures represents a
groundbreaking advancement with far-reaching implications. Beyond their core function
of self-repair, these innovative materials offer a multitude of potential benefits that can
significantly impact the construction industry and society as a whole.

 M2 brick can also help

maintain the longevity of
culturally relished historical
structures providing a
sustainable and innovative
solution to address the
challenges faced by these
invaluable assets. Materials
used in the M-2 bricks can be
used to reinforce weakened or
damaged structural elements
such as walls, arches and
columns, without
compromising the buildings
historical integrity, they can also be formulated to match the aesthetic
characteristics of existing heritage buildings, ensuring that repairs blend seamlessly
with the original structure. Bio bricks provide a non-invasive and cheap solution to
problems being faced by the construction industry for decades.

 Due to its self-healing capabilities it can

provide homeowners with a more durable and
sustainable living space in case of calamity
such as the Hurricane Milton and Helene
ongoing in Florida. M2 brick can be used to
construct or repair bridges and tunnels,
improving their resilience to damage and
reducing chances of accidents and collapse of
such paramount structures in cities.
42 | P a g e
  These bacterial preparations used in the M-2 brick can also be mixed into building
repair products that can be non invasively be established on walls helping heal
already existing disparities in modern structures.

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 FUTURE PROSPECTS
We have given a kick start to this technology but its improvement and implementation is
a team effort. With continuous advancements in technology and development, time will
open up new, better avenues for the M~2 brick. Following are some future applications
we thought of -

Sound proof M~2 wall : The vicinity of institutions like

hospitals and schools requires silence, unfortunately the
honking of vehicles and the rush on the roadsides makes
it extremely difficult to attain this. To amend this we
can use a wall made of these particular bricks,as the
organic materials used in the M~2 are quite deft at
absorbing sound. Unlike regular soundproofing walls
these walls are not a fire hazard and do not cause any
health problems.

Constructing roads and highways: India has over 1.5 lakh kms of highways, they occupy
a vast area that stops water from percolating and require tons of cement but with further
research in this field we can potentially build entire roads and highways using this
technology. This feat would ensure stable and increasing ground water levels and reduce
potholes, while remaining more economical and better for the environment.

Smart self healing sensors: To make the brick even more long lasting,
we can add sensors that detect changes in moisture and pH and then
trigger the bacteria to start urea hydrolysis. This could reduce excessive
bacterial activity and prolong the bacteria’s lifespan.

Cement alternatives: While cement is a necessary building block of the

construction industry we are looking for a greener alternative to use as a binding agent in
our M~2 brick. In the future formulas we are looking to eliminate the need for cement
entirely in favour of some sort of organic gum or resin that offers high strength while
having a lower carbon footprint. This will make the M~2 brick even more
environmentally friendly.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Meyer, C. & D. D. (2014). Sustainable Concrete: A Comprehensive Guide. CRC
Press.
2. Kumar, S., & Kumar, A. (2020). "Impact of Urbanization on Groundwater
Depletion in India." Water Resources Management, 34(3), 123-135.
3. World Bank. (2019). "Groundwater Depletion in India: A National Assessment."
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6. Pacheco-Torgal, F., & Jalali, S. (2011). "Eco-Efficient Construction and Building
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