New “Sargapanel” Turns Sargassum into a Building Material

Every year, tons of sargassum invade Caribbean beaches, disrupting tourism and harming the ecosystem. To repurpose this material, a team of UNAM researchers, led by Miriam Estévez González, has developed Sargapanel, an innovative construction panel made from gypsum and dried sargassum.

The project aims to provide a large-scale, sustainable solution to mitigate the environmental impact of this macroalgae. Each panel incorporates up to 60 kilograms of wet sargassum, promoting a circular economy using recyclable and non-toxic materials.

Beyond its ecological benefits, Sargapanel stands out for its durability, thermal insulation properties, and fire-retardant capabilities, making it an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative for construction.

As part of their efforts, the research team from the Center for Applied Physics and Advanced Technology participated in the First BBVA National Sustainability Challenge 2023 “Together for the Mexican Caribbean”. In November 2024, their project was selected as one of the winning proposals in a competition organized by the UNAM-TEC Consortium—comprising UNAM, through the Technology Transfer Unit (CVTT), and the Monterrey Institute of Technology—in collaboration with BBVA Mexico.

In just one year, the team has developed an initiative that addresses a significant environmental challenge, and they plan to continue advancing the project. A company has already expressed interest in acquiring this technology.