Sustainability is key to the modern construction industry, aiming to improve environmental friendliness, energy efficiency and quality whilst reducing costs. This means more attention than ever is being paid to sustainable building materials.
Many of these materials come from plants and other sustainable sources, whilst others originate from recycled or waste products. If you want to advise on and supply sustainable materials, you can view builders merchants vacancies on sites such as //bmcareers.com/.
1. Ferrock
Ferrock is made from leftover steel dust combined with silica, reducing the waste being burned or sent to landfill. It is even stronger and more durable than concrete; what’s more, the hardening process traps carbon dioxide so it cannot be released into the atmosphere.
2. Mycelium composites
One of many uses for mycelium, or the root network of fungi, is as a strong and lightweight building material. Mycelium composites do not require much energy to produce and will naturally compost at the end of their lives without releasing toxic chemicals.
3. Hempcrete
Lime and water are added to the fibres of the hemp plant to create a durable, although not load-bearing, lightweight material with strong insulating properties and inbuilt mould resistance. As with other plant-based materials, growing hemp absorbs carbon and does not increase emissions.
4. Cross-laminated timber/CLT
Timber is sustainable when sourced responsibly, as it absorbs carbon as it grows and is easily replaced. In CLT, wood panels are glued with non-toxic adhesives in a crosswise pattern. This builds their strength to effectively substitute for less sustainable steel or concrete. They can be prefabricated to save time and waste on-site.
5. Bamboo
Bamboo is even more sustainable than wood due to its ability to grow 35 times quicker than a regular tree. It is also a particularly good absorber of carbon compared to other plants. It is resistant to insects, so requires fewer treatments with potentially harmful chemicals, and has a similar tensile strength to steel.
These are just five of the sustainable building materials that have become common in recent years. Developers continue to pursue new ways to further improve sustainability.