Cyprus to test seagrass-based insulation materials

Researchers in Cyprus announced on Monday, November 2, 2026, that the country will participate in a four-year European project to develop sustainable building materials using marine waste. Led by the AKTI centre, the initiative will involve testing insulation made from dead Posidonia oceanica seagrass collected from beaches in Limassol. This material, which is traditionally cleared by authorities for aesthetic and tourism purposes, will be repurposed instead of being sent to landfills.

Beyond seagrass, the project will also examine the feasibility of using excavated soil for natural coatings and drainage layers. Organic residues remaining from the manufacturing process will be converted into compost. The project is funded by the European Union and involves collaborations between universities, technology firms, and research centres across 13 countries. Coordinated by the University of Thessaly, the initiative will utilize 13 regional hubs to trial these materials, with the overarching goal of reducing the construction industry's environmental footprint and waste. The project is scheduled to run until 2030, aiming to transform discarded marine waste into functional construction products.