Eco-Friendly Materials You Would Never Expect in Industrial Projects

Environmental protection is becoming increasingly relevant. So now, it is even more necessary for industrial projects to adopt green options and contribute to improving the worrying situation on planet Earth. Over the past four decades, human pressure on our planet has significantly increased. Today, we need 1.7 planets to generate the resources necessary for our consumption. 

Choosing eco-friendly materials and services in the industrial sector can improve these alarming statistics and create better conditions for everyone. Such choices and a return to natural materials will allow us to see changes with every step, benefiting not only the health of the planet but also aesthetically. Industrial projects use resources that can impact the planet and humanity. But it’s not all doom and gloom, some of the most sustainable materials have been used for centuries before humans discovered other solutions that have disrupted nature’s balance. Let’s take a closer look at some of these materials and resources and how they work in industrial projects. 

Bamboo

Bamboo grows from Africa to northern Australia and is known for its strength, hardness, and growth rate, which is faster than concrete's setting time! According to a report by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, bamboo is the most efficient carbon storage. On a hectare of bamboo plantation, it can store 401 tons of carbon. Second on the "top list" would be Chinese fir, which can store 237 tons of carbon per hectare of plantation-grown trees.

Cork

Unlike most trees, where the primary and usable value lies in the cut timber of the trunk, natural cork is obtained from the tree bark. This unusually thick bark consists of millions of tiny prisms in air pockets, creating an elastic cushioned surface with several advantages over other woods. It's the only material that continually renews itself when it is used. It's waterproof and bacteria, dirt, and mite resistant, making it an excellent choice for family homes. 

Hemp’s journey to greener operations

Hemp is becoming a more sustainable option for conventional building elements precisely because of its similarities – but also differences – compared to wood. Hemp can be used for making ropes, insulation, and bioplastics; it absorbs more than 20 tons of carbon per hectare, and the possibility of two harvests per year effectively doubles this amount. Like wood, hemp also stores carbon. However, its fast growth makes it a superior raw material for carbon capture. Hemp can be grown for 90 to 120 days, 100 times faster than oak. According to GoodEarth Resources, an Australian environmental energy consulting firm, "It has been scientifically proven that industrial hemp absorbs more CO2 per hectare than any forest or commercial crop."

Is it possible to build a mushroom building?

Part of the mushroom, called mycelium, has already been found to be applicable in producing industrial projects of numerous sustainable materials, structures, and objects. Mushrooms can be found everywhere: in the air, in water, on trees, in our bodies, or on the ceilings of our bathrooms. They can be edible and medicinal but also hallucinogenic and poisonous, or they can take on other simpler forms like mold. They can cause diseases but also cure them by helping to create antibiotics. Depending on the type of mycelium insulation panels, furniture, packaging, fabric, and even bricks can be produced. What we see from the mushroom is only a small part. What lies beneath the surface is called mycelium and has exceptional characteristics. These fragile threads develop in all directions, creating a complex network that can act as a strong adhesive. If the substrate consists of sawdust, various agricultural residues, or similar materials that would otherwise remain unused and in synthesis with mycelium, they can create a solid block. 

Recycled plastic and steel

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 460 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, which has doubled in the past decade and shows no signs of decreasing. Every person on the planet generates almost one kilogram more waste than single-use plastic, which is attributed to the increased need for plastic recycling. It is applicable in many industries but can also be excellently utilized in the construction industry. Recycled plastic can be used in the industry to create plastic sheets, concrete, bricks, lumber, pipes, roofs, floors, and PVC. Many companies are mindful of using green options and eco-friendly materials. According to the latest data, as many as 51 percent of users choose a company based on its environmental efforts. Material choice is crucial in construction, and if a company cares about the environment, it will opt for natural materials whenever possible during construction. If you want to check which materials are available for your industrial projects, you can find a wide range on Locanto.

Another essential factor to consider when choosing environmentally friendly building materials is that recycled steel is most commonly used in construction. Why is that? Because of the composition of steel, which has enormous durability. Used steel is just as suitable for use as new steel, and demand for it constantly increases in industrial projects. This material is resistant to water and pests, durable, and requires minimal maintenance, which also helps reduce operational carbon emissions.

Encouraging the industry to use these materials more in construction could significantly improve the planet's pollution and the increasing amounts of waste that are difficult to manage. The future of industrial projects and our planet relies on the implementation of these sustainable elements, and hopefully as the word spreads about their benefits, they will be used more and more.