Research Trends and Gaps in Construction Insulation Materials from Textile Waste and End-of-Life Wind Turbine Blades...

Waste from the wind power and textile industries poses major environmental challenges. While the textile industry is a significant global contributor to waste, producing around 92 million tons of waste annually, and greenhouse gas emissions, wind power, although one of the cleanest energy sources during operation, still generates waste and associated CO₂ emissions, particularly associated with the end-of-life decommissioning of turbine blades. This waste can be reused, combined with bio-based binders, to reduce the construction sector's long-term environmental impact. The present work identifies research trends and gaps in the use of these waste materials, either individually or combined, for the development of thermal and acoustic insulation solutions for the construction sector, by means of a combined bibliometric and content analysis of Scopus and Web of Science documents from 2014 to 2025. The study focuses on bibliometric indicators and reports on physical properties (thermal conductivity, density, mechanical strength, and acoustic performance) of the resulting composites, including those produced with bio-binders. Additionally, a qualitative review of life cycle assessment studies indicates that bio-based and waste-derived insulation materials can significantly reduce environmental impacts compared with conventional mineral or petrochemical insulators. Results reveal growing scientific interest in this subject, highlighting an annual publication growth of 5.09%. They emphasize the performance of natural textile fibers in thermal and acoustic insulation, the mechanical capacity of synthetic fibers, and the semi-structural potential of fiberglass composites. Meanwhile, bio-binders improve the upcycling of textile waste; however, they reveal a significant research gap in the integration of wind turbine blade waste into insulation composites. No indexed studies were found that simultaneously combine textile waste, blade-derived fibers, and bio-based binders in a single insulation system, despite projected cumulative blade waste of 43 million tons by 2050. These findings advocate hybrid innovations and standardized assessments to drive circular economy and low-carbon building solutions.