In many regions, open burning of crop residues also worsens air pollution and public health. The team used a “dynamic” life-cycle approach to assess the climate impact of different uses of crop residues on a global scale. Instead of just counting total emissions, this method tracks when carbon is released or stored over time, which can significantly change how a material’s climate impact is understood. “Our research shows that if these fibres are redirected into long-lived building materials, they can store carbon for decades and produce a measurable cooling effect. Turning agricultural byproducts into building materials is one way to slow that carbon’s return to the atmosphere.