## 7 Future Perspectives and Sustainability Goals  
### Technological Innovations in Waste Valorization  
The future of sustainable construction is increasingly focused on the innovative reuse of secondary resources, such as mining wastes, industrial by-products, and other recyclable materials. Technological advancements are playing a crucial role in transforming these waste materials into valuable construction components, aligning with broader circular economy goals and sustainability targets [290]. As the industry strives to reduce its environmental footprint, integrating these secondary resources offers a pathway to significantly lower impacts while creating new economic opportunities. Advanced processing technologies--including mechanical, thermal, and chemical processes--are at the forefront of converting mining wastes into high-value construction materials. These technologies enable the transformation of materials like mining tailings into lightweight aggregates, paving blocks, and bricks, providing sustainable alternatives to traditional, resource-intensive materials [291]. This not only diverts waste from landfills but conserves natural resources, contributing to lower emissions and a reduced environmental impact throughout the construction lifecycle. Geopolymer technology represents a significant opportunity for the construction sector by using mining wastes to produce geopolymer binders. These binders can replace traditional cement, significantly reducing CO2 emissions linked to conventional construction practices. By adopting geopolymer technology, the industry can turn problematic waste streams into durable, environmentally friendly construction materials with enhanced chemical resistance [292]. Nanotechnology is another promising area for the reuse of secondary resources. For example, nano-silica extracted from mining tailings can replace portions of traditional binders in construction materials, improving strength and durability while reducing environmental impact [293]. This approach aligns with sustainability goals by minimizing the use of conventional raw materials and enhancing the overall performance of construction products.  
However, while these innovations are promising, their implementation at industrial scale requires a realistic assessment of technological readiness and commercial viability. For instance, some solutions, such as the use of cellulose-based insulation panels or fiber-reinforced concrete blocks derived from textile waste, have reached high technology readiness levels (TRL 8-9), being already available on the market [42; 94]. Conversely, other developments, such as the use of nano-silica from mining tailings or CO2-cured slag-based bricks, remain at lower TRLs (5-6), as they are still undergoing pilot-scale validation or early pre-industrial implementation [93; 268]. Geopolymer technologies using mining tailings have also demonstrated laboratory feasibility and mechanical performance but often face scalability issues due to the need for pretreatment, alkali activation, and durability under real exposure conditions [183; 185]. Therefore, although the innovation pipeline is rich and diverse, bridging the gap between research and market adoption still requires investment in demonstration-scale trials, standardization efforts, and supportive policy frameworks to overcome current barriers.