Biobased construction materials, a sustainable solution?

At first glance, biomass seems to provide the perfect solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially in the building construction industry, which accounts for nearly 25% of France’s carbon footprint. That said, how viable are biobased construction materials made with plant matter such as straw, sunflower or hemp?

Published on 16 January 2023

The magazine that informs, decodes and gives food for thought

To read in this dossier

1. Construction potential of biobased materials

According to the UN, building construction was responsible for 37% of global CO2 emissions in 2021, underscoring the industry’s extremely high levels of energy consumption and pollution. Thus, transitioning towards biobased materials could provide a promising way for the industry to reduce its environmental footprint. We explore this important topic.

2. Building tomorrow: 9 biobased materials

Walls, floors, insulation materials, paints: more and more construction projects are utilising biobased materials. We take a closer look at 9 innovations that eschew non-renewable resources that were designed with the help of INRAE researchers.

[INFOGRAPHICS] Biomaterials: origins, uses and life cycles at a glance

Infographic 9 biobased materials Life cycle of hemp infographic

Sources and uses of biomaterials in France

Ensuring sustainability

Environmental impacts exist even when we produce materials directly from herbaceous or woody plants. For example, any transformation of biomass releases greenhouse gases (GHGs). Furthermore, harvesting residues rather than leaving them in place can reduce soil fertility and levels of carbon storage. INRAE researchers are exploring the sustainability and management of biobased materials under different conditions. We describe various perspectives.

Are 100% biobased systems realistic?

Biobased products can help lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase long-term carbon storage. The building construction industry is not alone in its interest in biobased products. How can we ensure that supplies of plant residues and dedicated crops are able to meet the burgeoning demands of these new industries without threatening the supply to established industries, including those involved in food production?

Glossary

Biomass: Any organic matter from plants or animals that is renewable on a human time scale. Examples include crops, pastures, forests, and farm animals (e.g., livestock, fish, animal waste). This non-fossilised material can be exploited in various ways. For instance, it can be used to feed humans or animals, manufacture diverse products, or generate heat or electricity.

Biobased product: An industrial product that is partially or totally derived from biomass and that is used neither as food nor energy. This term is currently employed for various materials (bioplastics and composites) and chemical compounds. These products can be obtained from different types of biomass: oil and protein crops, starch and sugar plants, forestry resources, herbaceous plants, and organic industrial co-products or by-products. They are not necessarily biodegradable.

Ecodesign: A scientific, technical, and economic approach aimed at designing and developing products that are more environmentally friendly.

Renewable carbon: Carbon originating from rapidly renewable biological resources whose consumption does not increase the net amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Bioeconomy: An economy based on photosynthetic resources and, more broadly, on living resources. Its functional basis is the effective creation of value from biomass production and mobilisation. In a bioeconomy, maximum use is made of solar energy, which is a free, abundant, and renewable resource.

Biosphere: All of the ecosystems (i.e., living organisms and their abiotic environments) found on Earth, whether in the soil, water, or atmosphere.

Technosphere: Scientific concept that refers to materials created by humans that do not exist in a natural state (e.g., plastics, composite materials). It consists of objects that are currently in use as well as those that have been discarded, including those present in the atmosphere.

Carbon sinks: Ecosystem components (e.g., oceans, plants, soils) that absorb more atmospheric carbon than they release. This capacity depends on various factors, and, under certain conditions, carbon sinks may become carbon sources.

Sarah-Louise Filleux, Pierre-Yves Lerayer, Yann Chavance

Authors / Translated by Jessica Pearce
Monique Axelos & Michael O'Donohue

Scientific directors
Arthur Bonifay

Illustrator

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