The construction industry produces a lot of waste and pollution. New innovations in biomaterials based on microbes are helping to reduce this environmental damage. These materials include self-healing concrete and insulation made from mycelium, which is part of the root system of mushrooms.
Combined with other materials, they produce durable composites that can be used in buildings. They can also bind moisture, which influences hygro-thermal stability.
They are made from natural substances
Biomaterials can be made from a wide range of substances, including metals, ceramics, plastics, glass, living cells and tissues, or even bacteria. They can be reengineered into molded or machined parts, coatings, fibers, films and fabrics for use in medical products and devices. They are often designed to be biocompatible, meaning they will not cause an immune response in the human body and can disappear from the organism gradually after fulfilling a function.
Many of these materials are already used in current medical practice. For example, they can be found in artificial hip joints and other replacements, heart valves, vascular grafts and stents, and dental implants. They also include devices that stimulate nerves and aid in the healing of wounds. New biomaterials are also being developed for regenerative medicine, such as photo-thermal nano composites that can be used to heal chronic diabetic ulcers or repair colon defects.
The bio-based material industry is expanding rapidly, with some researchers predicting that it will surpass fossil fuels within the next decade. However, a transition to a bio-based economy must be grounded in sustainable criteria to prevent deforestation, harmful land-use change, and biodiversity loss. Additionally, it must be accompanied by a multi-stakeholder approach to develop a demand and a skilled workforce for bio-based materials. Moreover, biomaterials must be developed that have high-level performance and durability.
They are biodegradable
Biomaterials are a promising alternative to conventional building materials. The use of these renewable materials offers a number of benefits, such as reduced transportation costs and environmental impacts. They also promote the reuse of materials, and can help to improve the structural performance of buildings.
However, biomaterials have a few limitations. For example, biodegradable materials are not suitable for load-bearing applications. They also require careful characterization. Mechanical properties are important, but it is also essential to determine the cellular and biochemical interactions that the material will have with the body’s blood/tissue. This is known as biomimetics and is crucial to the success of a medical application.
Moreover, biodegradable building materials are more environmentally friendly than non-biodegradable materials. Biomaterials that are harvested from living organisms have a low carbon footprint and can be recycled or used as building insulation. For example, wood is a greener alternative to concrete because it can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in its tissues. This makes wood a more efficient carbon sink than steel and glass.
Additionally, new biomaterials are being developed to improve the sustainability of traditional construction materials. Wil Srubar, an associate professor focusing on architecture and new materials at the University of Colorado Boulder, is working to develop a microbe-based “living concrete” by embedding photosynthesizing Synechococcus cyanobacteria in a hydrogel and sand scaffold mold. His research could lead to the development of a new type of portland cement that would replace petroleum-based materials, and even provide a marketplace for embodied carbon offsets.
They are recyclable
Biomaterials are a key pillar of Europe’s bioeconomy and a major contributor to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and embodied energy. They are also an important source of renewable raw materials and provide a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels. These characteristics make them an excellent choice for construction applications.
The use of biomaterials in the building industry is accelerating because they are sustainable and often more functional than traditional materials. The latest innovations include self-healing concrete, mycelium insulation, and chipboard made of food waste. Many of these innovations are the result of biomimicry, which is the process of capturing and exploiting natural properties.
Increasing interest in biomaterials is fueled by growing awareness of the ecological impact of the construction industry. Many biomaterials are carbon-negative and can help to reduce the need for non-renewable resources such as steel, cement, and plastic. Hemp, for example, can be used to create strong and lightweight structures with a carbon-negative footprint. Its fibres are also a sustainable alternative to leather, and it offers acoustic and insulation benefits. Algae can be used to produce biodegradable resins and plastics. Fungi, including mycelium, the root-like structure of mushrooms, can be used to make a wide variety of products and structures.
Newlight Technologies produces a bioplastic called AirCarbon, which is made from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHAs are produced by cyanobacteria and are found in all living things. They are more sustainable than fossil-fuel-based plastics because they can break down in cold environments and do not leach chemicals into the ocean.
They are energy-efficient
Biomaterials can be made from a wide range of sources, including metals, ceramics, plastics, and even living cells and tissues. They can be reengineered into molded or machined parts, coatings, fibers, films, foams, and fabrics for use in building materials, furniture, and other products. They can also be used to create medical devices, such as heart valves and stents; artificial joints and ligaments; hearing loss implants; dental implants; or methods to promote wound healing.
The construction industry faces significant environmental challenges, but there is a growing desire for sustainable buildings. These initiatives include new building solutions that reduce embodied carbon and are based on renewable resources. Biomaterials, which are derived from living organisms such as plants and fungi, are a major part of this movement towards net-zero architecture.
These materials can be produced locally, with minimum transportation costs. They can be incorporated into walls, floors, ceilings, and other structures to reduce the overall impact of a building on its surroundings. They can also be used to reduce energy consumption in a building’s structure and to enhance the indoor environment.
The sustainability of biomaterials can vary widely, based on feedstock selection (including whether crops are grown to produce second-generation fuels), farming practices (such as regenerative agriculture and avoiding deforestation for biofuel production), and land-use policies (to minimize impacts on climate change). In addition, many manufacturers of biomaterials prioritize process innovation in order to fulfill a variety of ESG requirements.