Could bio-based materials be the key to transforming the building sector and reducing its impact on climate change?
The articles described present a compelling set of arguments on timber industry, sustainable forestry
nonconventional materials and innovative technologies.
TIMBER
Timber is highlighted as the biggest widespread potential of low-carbon alternative to steel and concrete
especially referred to in mid- and high-rise buildings. Important considerations with mass timber lie in
forest management, reforestation as well as the disposal and reuse of timber materials at the end of a
building’s life (Churkina et al 2020).
Pomponi emphasises on the feasibility challenge of timber and the imbalance between demand and
forest regeneration stating that only 36% of the required timber could be supplied sustainably from global
forests. Therefore, if trees are not replanted, extraction of timber would simply be a ‘displacement’ of
carbon from forests to urban areas (2020).
NON – CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS
The importance of non-wood materials such as the fast-growing bamboo, hemp, flax and straw are
introduced as alternatives to the more traditional wood construction. Seen as having superior qualities to
timber in areas such as for example insulation, these materials are facing challenges in large scale
adaptations and further research and development needs to be addressed (Jones and Brischke, 2017).
Innovative technologies allow us to delve deeper into substituting conventional materials with the more
nature- friendly ones. Bringing back the earthen structures that were used for thousands of years in a form
of 3D printing. “Additive Manufacture” serves as an example of how soil-based structure can successfully
serve as load-bearing construction alternatives at the same time supporting plant life (Barnes et al, 2022).
Fig 2. Construction substitutes introduced by Material Cultures
How can circular economy be a catalyst of change? Can these changes be implanted and be of benefit
on a local scale? The key lies in the creation of new regulations, reduction of waste, evaluation of
product life cycle and the focus on biological resources as an opportunity for economic growth and
sustainability. A big emphasis is put upon biobased local materials as a potential to transform
communities. A strategic plan for NEY (North East Yorkshire) has been stated in ‘Circular Biobased
Construction’. The once Centre of Industrial Revolution is now one of the most deprived areas of the
country. A significant potential for the area is in the production of biobased feedstock. With local
production generating new jobs, skillset and becoming an example of a circular economy. Sustainable
crops like hemp (that serves also as a potential for biobased building material) have the opportunity
to realize the standards set out by local and national government as well as the RIBA 2030 Climate
Challenge to reduce the levels of embodied carbon in construction industries. (Material Cultures,
2021).
DIGITAL FABRICATION
Digital design a fabrication tools open non-standard ways of assembling geometries that allow the full use
of the timbers’ complex and organic forms without much of the wasteful industrial processing (Self, 2017).
Furthermore, prefabricated buildings have been evaluated as a beneficial method to the sustainable
development of economy, society and environment, although a more holistic multi-dimensional approach
is necessary to also consider the living and welfare standard (Zhou et al, 2022).
Fig 3. The AA, irregular geometries – Martin Self in Infinite Variations, radical technologies
There is a scope of possibilities of nature-based materials within the build environment holds great
promise for sustainable construction, and ongoing research continues to push the boundaries of what is
possible. While full implementation may take time, the current trajectory shows significant progress
towards achieving more eco-friendly and resilient building practices.
References:
Barnes S. et al (2022) 3D printing of ecologically active soil structures, Additive Manufacturing
Churkina G. et al (2020) Buildings as a global carbon sink. Perspective. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893 019-0462-4
Jones & Brischke (2017) Non-wood biobased materials. LNEC,Lisbon
Material Cultures, 2021 Circular Biobased Construction in the North East Yorkshire
Self M (2017) INFINITE VARIATIONS, RADICAL STRATEGIES. Architectural Association, London
Zhou J. et al (2022) Quantitative study on external benefits of prefabricated buildings: From perspectives
of economy, environment, and society. Sustainable Cities and Society
