Some observations about the paper "earth construction: Lessons from the past for future eco-efficient construction" by F. Pacheco-Torgal and S. Jalali

J.C. Morel, J.E. Aubert, Y. Millogo, E. Hamard, and A. Fabbri critically analyze the paper by F. Pacheco-Torgal and S. Jalali on 'Earth construction: Lessons from the past for future eco-efficient construction'. According to them, throughout the article, the authors seem to postulate that the stabilization technique is a compulsory step for earth construction. This leads to quite surprising conclusions about the cost and environmental impacts and their assumed direct link with the nature and amount of the binder used. While the question of stabilization is entirely appropriate for some applications, its routine use in industrialized countries can be questioned. Some local soils are known to exhibit sufficient mechanical characteristics without amendment. The authors are not at all against the stabilization, particularly if it is done with the real three dimensions of sustainable building.