A Review on Effect of Natural Fibers to Mitigate CO2 Footprint and Enhance Engineering Properties of 3D Printing Concrete (2025-07)¶

3D printing concrete (3DPC) technology holds considerable promise that can revolutionize construction practices offering numerous advantages such as material efficiency, formwork elimination, time efficiency, and sustainability. This review investigates the effect of natural fibers specifically hemp, jute, kenaf, rice husk, and bamboo on enhancing the mechanical performance and sustainability of 3D-printing (3DP). The primary objective is to evaluate the fiber influence on mechanical strengths, durability and CO2 emission reduction. An analysis of peer-review literature was conducted, focusing on effect of chemical treatment on fibers influencing mechanical properties and sustainability aspects. This review categorizes parameters affecting 3DP into three realms : material-related, system-related, economic and environmental factors. Finding suggested that merging natural fibers can significantly improve structural performance while promoting sustainable construction. Natural fibers contribute to reducing binder usage and low CO2 footprints, especially when combined with design strategies. These findings are based on comparative analysis across studies, highlighting the importance of material optimization for sustainable construction. Future research should focus on challenges associated using natural fibers, material optimization, treatment methods and mix design to fully leverage performance and sustainability benefits in large-scale 3D-printed construction.