Spotlight

Flaxwood linoleum by Dzek

Linoleum tiles by Dzek in collaboration with designer Christien Meindertsma. It is a bio-based product that promotes a healthy indoor environment made with solidified linseed oil (from flax) and pine resin, filled with additives such as limestone, cork dust and wood flour. Image Dzek.

Spotlight

Ecor bio-based and recycled panels

Ecor convert agricultural and post-consumer waste (paper and card) into building materials, providing an alternative to engineered wood panels. Raw materials are processed into usable feedstock via a mechanical pulping process to achieve the desired properties for the pulp. The pulp is then dispersed in water and through controlled processing the lignin acts as a natural glue, like hardboard, binding the fibres together. Image Ecor.

Spotlight

Keim mineral paint

Keim mineral silicate paints are made with non-toxic natural ingredients and mineral pigments. Applied to masonry, the paint forms a permanent chemical bond between the pigment and substrate, creating a long lasting and colourfast coating that is breathable, noncombustible and water resistant. The surface is inherently resistant to fungi, algae and mould growth resulting in a hygienic and beautiful finish. Image Keim.

Spotlight

ClayTec clay plaster

ClayTec clay plasters help to maintain healthy indoor air quality, regulate temperature and balance humidity. Clay plasters adhere to all common substrates used in construction; they are machine-friendly but also easily processed by hand. Image ClayTec.

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Mogu mycelium flooring

Mogu flooring is produced with mycelium and agricultural residue. A bio-based polyurethane resin (bio-PUR) coating is added to enhance durability and ensure the surface can tolerate heels, scratches and abrasions just like any conventional floor. To ensure maximum bio-based content, the proprietary formulation of the bio-resin uses low-value biomass in place of industrial pigments. Ingredients include corn crops, rice straw, spent coffee grounds, discarded seaweed and clam shells. Image Mogu.

Spotlight

Organoid natural fibre interior surfaces

Organoid surfaces are made with Austrian Alpine hay, harvested by hand on steep mountain slopes at an altitude of over 1,700 m. The hay is cleaned and cut before it is pressed, together with the colourful flower petals of marguerites, roses, cornflowers, heather, lavender and sun flowers, into the final product in several layers. The materials can be fixed to walls or furniture, for example. Image Organoid.

Spotlight

Seawool insulation by Seastex

Seastex convert waste byssus (known as the ‘beard’, is an inedible part of edible mussels that is usually removed during cleaning) into a soft, cloud-like raw material called Seawool. This by-product of food production is typically disposed in landfill of uses as biomass. Suitable for construction, furniture and textile industries, it is 100% bio-based, biodegradable, fire retardant and odourless. Image Seastex.

Spotlight

Kirei Wheatboard

Wheatboard by Kirei provides an alternative to medium density fibreboard (MDF), plywood and particleboard. It is produced from agricultural waste (wheat stalks) pressed into panels with polyurethane resin (PUR) binder – so no added formaldehyde (NAF). It is used in manufacture of cabinets, millwork, furniture, and subflooring, for example. Image Kirei.

Spotlight

Medite Tricoya Extreme medium density fibreboard (MDF)

Medite Tricoya Extreme is a medium density fibreboard (MDF) by Roseburg with no added formaldehyde (NAF) in combination with acetylated wood fibre. This means the wood is treated with acetic anhydride, resulting in a harder, more dimensionally stable and insect resistant composite. As a result, it can be used in many applications where MDF was previously not suitable — it is guaranteed for 50 years outdoors and 25 years in ground. Image Roseburg.

Spotlight

Masonite hardboard

Masonite hardboard does not require additional adhesive – the lignin already present in the wood acts as a binder. The wet wood fibre mix is laid onto a mesh (similar to paper making) and some of the water pressed out before final high-pressure forming into a panel with heat.

Spotlight

Marmoleum linoleum by Forbo

Marmoleum linoleum by Forbo is a floor covering made with solidified linseed oil (from flax) and pine resin, reinforced with jute fibre, and filled with additives such as limestone, cork dust and wood flour. Marmoleum is made with renewable energy and materials for a sustainable and non-toxic product.

Spotlight

Limestone calcined clay cement, LC3

Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) cement produces 30-40% less CO2 emissions compared to regular cement. The reduction is achieved by partially substituting (20-70%) clinker with calcined clay and limestone. This allows for a lower firing temperature and avoids the decomposition of limestone, which is responsible for a significant proportion of the CO2 of cement production. Clay is calcined (heated to around 800 degC, as opposed to 1,450 degC for regular cement) to make it suitable. It is widely available and compatible with modern cement manufacturing processes. While clinker is a waste product from burning coal and steel furnaces, it is not always available close to the cement factories, and the processes that generate it have come into question over sustainability concerns. Developed by Prof Karen Scrivener from EPFL in Switzerland and Prof Fernando Martirena from UCLV in Cuba, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation (SDC). LC3 is in commercial production in several cement factories around the world. Image LC3.

Spotlight

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is a type of structural engineered wood used in construction, interiors, furniture and products. It is produced from layers of veneer glued together with high-strength adhesive. For example, spruce LVL is typically made with 3 mm thick veneers. Depending on the LVL product, veneers are laminated with the grain running parallel, or some are cross-laminated. Very large panels are possible up to 2.5 x 25 m or more. Image Puuinfo.

Spotlight

IsoHemp hemp blocks

IsoHemp hemp blocks (also called hemplime and hempcrete) are particularly suitable for the construction of residential houses, for lining existing walls from the inside or outside, as well as for industrial and flat partitioning. It offers high thermal insulation, breathability and very low carbon footprint. Image IsoHemp.

Spotlight

Glulam

Glued laminated timber (GLT) is a type of structural engineered wood used in construction, interiors, furniture and products. Parallel lengths of kiln-dried timber are laminated together to form predictable structural ceiling beams, support posts, lintels, girders and main weight-bearing structures in roofs, rafters, overhanging roof structural elements, and terrace and balcony structures. Image Arcwood.

Spotlight

Eelgrass insulation panels by Søuld

Eelgrass insulation panels by Søuld are manufactured from sea grass washed up on the seashore. An age-old material converted with modern manufacturing. The compressed eelgrass panels provide excellent acoustic and thermal insulation, help regulate humidity, inherent fire-resistance and low susceptibility to mould and bacteria due to the naturally high content of mineral salts. Image Søuld.

Spotlight

EcoCork by Secil

EcoCork by Secil is a composite of cork aggregate with lime based render or plaster to create a lightweight, insulating and vapour permeable surface finish for interiors.

Spotlight

Ecoboard bio-based panel

Ecoboard bio-based panels are made with reed or straw, a byproduct of food production, bonded with no added formaldehyde (NAF) adhesive. The company claims a negative carbon footprint of -0.96 kgCO2/kg if the amount of CO2 sequestered by the raw ingredients is taken into consideration (1.87 kgCO2/kg before production starts). They can be reused and recycled end of life. Image Ecoboard.

Spotlight

Baux acoustic pulp

Baux acoustic pulp moulded panels. 100% bio-based and compostable, the pulp panels are made with wood pulp, water, wheat (for colour), potato starch, plant-based wax and acid from citrus fruit. Image Baux.

Spotlight

Ampio stucco lustro

Ampio uses stucco lustro, an age-old Italian technique that creates a bright reflective interior surface. The material for stucco lustro is a mixture of slaked lime and crushed marble. It may be dyed to obtain different colours and mixed with mother of pearl, black sand, gold leaf or other natural additives to obtain a specific effects. Image Ampio.

Spotlight

Amorim expanded cork

Amorim expanded cork is used as a natural insulation in roofs, walls, floors, internal partitions and ceilings. It is made up of 100% cork, manufactured from scraps bound together with suberin (a waxy substance found in the cork cell walls). The raw materials are broken into small pieces and compressed in an autoclave (high-pressure heating chamber) at around 300 degC.

Spotlight

Accoya acetylated wood

Accoya wood is modified radiate pine. Through a process of acetylation, the chemical structure of the wood is altered, resulting in a dimensionally stable and extremely durable timber guaranteed for 50 years above ground and 25 years in ground or freshwater. The process does not add any toxins to the environment. Image Accoya.