Bio-Based Construction Transitions: A Systematic Review of the Integrative Socio-Material Perspective and Emerging Research Gaps

Introduction: Bio-based construction materials, such as timber, bamboo, and agricultural residue composites, offer significant potential for low-carbon and sustainable construction. However, their adoption remains uneven, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa. Existing research is fragmented across governance, material systems, technical capacities, socio-cultural practices, and socio-economic conditions, limiting a comprehensive understanding of bio-based construction transitions. This systematic review synthesises evidence on how these interconnected socio-material dimensions influence the adoption and scaling of bio-based construction while identifying key research gaps.

Methods: The review follows the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The literature is identified through Scopus and Web of Science, with Google Scholar used for supplementary searches. Studies are screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and analysed through qualitative thematic synthesis to identify recurring themes, interactions among socio-material dimensions, enabling and constraining factors, and underexplored research areas.

Results: The review identifies socio-material conditions that facilitate or hinder the adoption of bio-based construction, including governance systems, material supply chains, technical capacities, and cultural perceptions. It further highlights the interactions among these dimensions and identifies important knowledge gaps regarding their application in rapidly urbanising regions, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. It also highlights opportunities for scaling low-carbon construction through collaborative learning and institutional support in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Conclusions: This review advances the current understanding of bio-based construction transitions by integrating fragmented evidence across socio-material dimensions. It further advances understanding of sustainable construction pathways and offers evidence to inform future research and context-sensitive strategies for accelerating the adoption of bio-based materials in Sub-Saharan Africa.