Using biodegradable building materials in construction can reduce the amount of waste generated during a project’s lifetime. This can prevent over-taxing landfills and save energy.
It is a sustainable alternative to concrete and home insulation and can be made from locally-sourced materials. It also allows for a flexible design.
Bamboo
Bamboo is an eco-friendly building material that can be crafted into elegant and organic shapes. It is also lightweight, flexible, and strong. In addition, it can be used for insulation and roofing. Its unique properties make it an excellent alternative to conventional wood products. However, it is important to properly harvest and treat the material before using it for construction purposes.
Bamboo can be used to build homes, hotels, and office buildings. It can also be used for erosion control along rivers and other natural features, as it has the ability to absorb large amounts of nitrogen from water. In addition, bamboo is a fast-growing plant and can be grown in a variety of climates.
Bamboo can also be used for construction in disaster-stricken areas, as it can be used to quickly erect houses. Unlike timber, bamboo can be harvested without causing harm to existing trees. This helps to preserve forestland. The material can also be used in earthquake-prone areas to prevent soil erosion and landslides. It can be used to protect river banks, dam walls, and spillways.
Wood shingles
Wood shingles are waterproof wooden tiles used as cladding on buildings, most commonly roofs but also walls. They are made from split pieces of wood that have been shaped, usually with a drawknife or a hammer. They are highly durable and can be used for up to 50 years. They require regular maintenance, but are a good choice for roofs that must resist heavy snow loads and rain.
Historically, shingles were sawn from a block of wood and shakes were split off a bolt of wood. The difference is that shingles have cross grain due to the cutting process, while shakes are more evenly tapered and follow the grain more closely.
Both types of shingle are beautiful and add a warm, natural feel to your home. They can complement almost any style of home, and look particularly beautiful with brick or stone exteriors. They also fit well with homes with a rustic, high-character appearance. And, because they are made locally by hand, they help to support local economies and keep traditional skills alive. Additionally, they have low embodied energy and can be recycled after their lifespan is over.
Newspaper wood
Newspaper wood is a revolutionary material that allows paper, which was originally made from trees, to become wood again. It consists of planks of recycled paper that are coated in solvent-free glue and tightly rolled into thick logs. The result is a material that has many of the same properties as real wood and can be cut, milled, sanded, and treated as such.
The idea behind Newspaper Wood was first conceived by Mieke Meijer during her studies at the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2003. Her whimsical recycling project reversed the traditional production process from wood to paper and back again. It was only a few years later that she met with Arjan van Raadshooven and Anieke Branderhorst from the Dutch design label Vij5 who helped her bring the concept to life.
In order to launch the first product collection and international presentation of Newspaper Wood, Mieke Meijer and Vij5 invited a group of talented Dutch designers – rENs, Breg Hanssen, Ontwerpduo, Floris Hovers, and Christian Kocx & Tessa Kuyvenhoven – to experiment with this unique new material within their collections. The aim was to create a diverse range of products that shows the wide scope of possibilities that this new material has to offer.
Soybean oil
Soybean oil is a common cooking ingredient that can also be used in cosmetics and hair and skin care. However, it is important to choose organic or cold-pressed soybean oil. Soybean oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can be beneficial to heart health and may support hair and skin health. However, it can also contain saturated fats and omega-6 fatty acids. In addition, many vegetable oils are genetically modified and sourced from GMO crops.
Currently, biodegradable materials are used in construction to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. One such material is rammed earth, which uses layers of soil, gravel, and clay. These are compressed to form a strong and durable building material. The earth is locally sourced, which reduces transport costs. Another biodegradable material is hempcrete, which combines hemp with lime, sand, or pozzolans to create lightweight blocks that regulate internal temperatures and provide insulation. Other eco-friendly materials include linoleum, which is made from a mix of natural materials, such as linseed oil, natural resin, powdered cork, and wood flour. This type of material is biodegradable and can be recycled after use.
Bioplastics
As the world moves towards a circular economy, many are turning to green construction materials for building and remodeling. These include materials that degrade in the natural environment and don’t release harmful chemicals into our surroundings. However, they must also be strong enough to resist different climate conditions, and must also provide a good fit for the local ecosystem. For example, timber from indigenous trees can last for centuries and is much more durable than synthetic wood that’s treated with chemicals.
Bioplastics are made from renewable, non-fossil resources and can be compostable or biodegradable. They can offer improved circularity, reduced carbon footprint and alternative end-of-life (EOL) options6,7. However, they can have trade-offs, such as negative agricultural impacts and competition with food production. These issues must be considered carefully when evaluating the benefits of bioplastics, and they need to be assessed using life cycle assessments.
One challenge is the fact that most plant-based plastics are made from transgenic crops sprayed with herbicides, which take land out of production needed to feed a growing population. The plastics are also usually more expensive than their fossil-based counterparts, which can add up to significant costs over time. However, new innovations in the industry are lowering the price of bioplastics, and some companies are starting to produce them on a larger scale.