Exploring Advancements in Bio-Based Composites for Thermal Insulation: A Systematic Review

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Abstract
The increasing urgency to reduce the environmental impact of human activities has underscored the critical role of bio-materials in sustainable architecture and construction. This systematic review consolidates and critically analyzes recent advancements in bio-composite materials, focusing on their thermal insulation capabilities and broader applications within the built environment. Data from studies published since the start of 2024 were meticulously selected using stringent inclusion criteria guided by the PRISMA protocol. A meta-analysis conducted via VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20) illustrates keyword co-occurrence in titles and abstracts, highlighting emerging trends in bio-composite research. This review compiles and categorizes information on 50 bio-composite materials with confirmed properties of biodegradability or recyclability, systematically assessing their morphology, internal structure, and thermal characteristics, which are central to their insulation performance. While the primary focus of this review is on the thermal insulation properties of bio-composite materials, the mechanical properties are also included as supplementary data, reflecting the incidental availability of this information in the reviewed studies. The findings emphasize that thermal insulation applications dominate the usage of these materials (44%), followed by sub-structural roles (40%). A comparative analysis highlights the significant bio-composite thermal conductivity (λ) advancements, po-sitioning them as viable alternatives for standard building materials. A detailed matrix is presented to showcase the roles of polymer and ceramic matrices, further contextualizing their potential in construction, particularly for insulation applications. The study identifies critical challenges, such as scalability and du-rability. It proposes future research directions to enhance bio-materials integration in sustainable building practices, prioritising advancing technologies.

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