Biobased materials: rethinking housing construction with wood

By 2050, 70% of the world's population will live in cities. Although cities occupy 2% of the world's surface area, they account for two-thirds of global energy consumption and emit 80% of CO2.

In France, if we are to achieve more sustainable towns and cities, it is important to increase the number of eco-projects and the use of bio-sourced materials in construction. But what are biobased materials? What are the advantages in construction? And what are the obligations in force in the construction sector?

A biobased material is defined as a product made from a living material. The material may come from plants (wheat, rapeseed, flax, hemp, sawdust, etc.) or animal matter (sheep's wool, organic waste, etc.). From plant matter or animal matter, we obtain molecules and materials for the manufacture of objects such as building materials.

For example, flax fibres can be used to design insulation wools for buildings. There are many types of bio-sourced insulation, such as the flax we have just seen, but also sheep's wool, wood fibre, hemp wool, cotton wool, cellulose wadding from recycled paper, duck feather, cork, straw and recycled textiles.

The advantage of these bio-sourced materials is that they are environmentally friendly, and their use in new build or refurbishment of houses or collective housing helps to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings.

Biobased materials such as wood offer many advantages for the construction of buildings and individual homes. Here are the main advantages of using biobased materials:

Biobased materials for high thermal and humidity performance in buildings

Thanks to their porous and hygroscopic nature, biobased materials effectively regulate variations in temperature and humidity inside buildings. Biobased materials are more stable and offer excellent acoustic properties over time compared with synthetic materials.

Biosourced materials for healthy comfort in summer and winter

Because of their natural origin (plant or animal), bio-sourced materials offer high air quality inside buildings. Biosourced walls delay heat transfer and regulate the interior of buildings. The use of biobased materials also considerably reduces emissions of volatile organic compounds, and some even have pollution-removing properties!

Biobased materials that meet quality standards for construction materials

The vast majority of bio-sourced materials have technical opinions, certifications such as Acermi and, in some cases, an environmental and health declaration sheet (EHSDS) analysing the product's life cycle.

Renewable and recyclable bio-based materials for the circular economy

Derived from plant or animal biomass, biobased materials are made from so-called renewable raw materials. Some materials, such as cellulose wadding, are even derived from recycling. Because of their properties, biobased materials require very little energy to manufacture and store carbon throughout their lifetime. Biobased materials offer all the advantages needed to meet the challenges of the circular economy: saving resources upstream of the construction process, favouring resources that emit the least greenhouse gases and emissions into the atmosphere, reusing and recycling materials downstream of the construction cycle to extend the life of the materials and their use over time.

Biobased materials to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry

Using biobased materials in construction helps to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. Biobased materials require less energy to manufacture than conventional materials. What's more, most biobased materials are derived from plant biomass, which means that they capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store it throughout the building's lifetime.

The Climate and Resilience Act, adopted on 22 August 2021, contains 305 articles aimed at combating climate change by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2023. The Climate and Resilience Act includes the use of bio-sourced materials in public procurement.

"As of 1 January 2030, the use of bio-sourced or low-carbon materials will be required in at least 25% of major renovation and construction work carried out under public procurement contracts. A decree in the Council of State shall specify the terms and conditions for the application of this article, in particular the nature of heavy renovation work and the thresholds above which the obligation shall apply to public purchasers." (Article 39 of the law amending article L. 228-4 of the Environment Code).

Between now and 2030, the Climate and Resilience Act aims to increase the number of construction projects using biobased materials. This law is in line with the RE2020, which comes into force on 1 January 2022 and sets out the framework for the construction of new buildings, taking into account their energy performance, their carbon footprint and their capacity to produce energy.

At Sivalbp, we have developed a wide range of biosourced wood façade solutions that meet the challenges of the new environmental regulations.

Discover all our ranges of bio-sourced wood cladding and consult our EHDS (Environmental and Health Declaration Sheet) to find out about the carbon footprint of our wood cladding.

A wood project? Contact our timber experts.