What is a biobased material?
Between the introduction of more ambitious environmental legislation and the increasingly costly use of fossil-based raw materials, biobased materials are enjoying strong growth.
The use of bio-sourced materials materials increase in recent years. Today, it is estimated that plant fiber accounts for between 5 and 10% of the insulation market.
Definition of a biobased material
Biobased materials are derived from renewable organic matter (biomass) of plant or animal origin. In addition to their main use in construction materials and products, they are also used in decorative products, clothing, packaging and stationary furniture.
Biobased materials are part of the ecomaterials family, completed by geobased materials. The latter are materials of mineral or raw origin, which require little processing (raw earth, stone).
What are the main biobased materials?
There are seven main types of material:
- Sheep's wool : This wool is generally unsuitable for the textile industry. It is used to produce rolls or panels, loose wool and hanks.
- Wood Wood: has long been used in construction, enabling the creation of building products such as load-bearing structures, cladding, joinery, wood panels, wood wool and bulk wood.
- Hemp Hemp: a fast-growing plant requiring little or no fertilizer. Fiber and chenevotte are the most common building products. Hemp is used to create mortars, coatings, concrete and hemp wool, or can be used directly in bulk.
- Cellulose wadding Made from recycled paper, it can be used to create semi-rigid panels or directly in bulk.
- Cork Made mainly from cork oak or by recycling corks, this material can be used to create recycled panels and rolls, for example.
- Straw Straw: widely available in France, it can be used in construction in the form of bales, panels and plaster.
- Recycled textiles Recycled textile: recovered from textile industry offcuts and sorting bins. After treatment (cutting, chopping, defibration, thermobonding with polyester), it is used to form semi-rigid rolls or panels.
Why use biobased materials in construction?
These biobased materials are far more environmentally efficient than traditional fossil-based materials. According to a study by the Hub des prescripteurs bas carboneby substituting fossil-based materials with biobased materials, it would be possible to reduce the carbon impact of a large number of products by up to 60%: partitions, cladding, doors, windows, hard floor coverings, wall coverings, insulation, etc.
What measures and legislation encourage the use of bio-sourced materials in construction?
Law no. 2015-992 of August 17, 2015 on energy transition for green growth includes the following provisions:
"All new buildings managed by the State, its public establishments or local authorities must be exemplary in terms of energy and the environment, and wherever possible must be positive energy and high environmental performance" (article 8 I).
In 2018, the Elan law (Evolution du Logement, l'Aménagement et le Numérique) specifies that in the construction or renovation of public buildings, requirements to combat greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage must also be taken into account, and care must be taken to use materials from renewable resources. Elan imposes several measures to encourage the use of bio-sourced materials:
- Introduction of prefabrication (a construction method widely used in timber construction) into the French Construction and Housing Code;
- Announcement of measures to promote the construction of prefabricated single-family homes;
- Announcement of an environmental regulation in 2020 that will have to take into account the carbon storage in building materials made possible by bio-sourced materials.
The Bâtiment biosourcé label promotes the use of biobased materials in construction. It defines a regulatory framework for voluntary application. The label defines several levels of requirements, both quantitative - in terms of the volume of materials used - and qualitative - the use of FDES s (environmental and health declaration sheets) rather than DEDs, use of wood from sustainably managed forests, and low emissions of volatile organic compounds.
Finally, the Environmental Regulation 2020which comes into force on January 1, 2022, positions bio-sourced materials as priority solutions for an eco-responsible future in new housing and commercial buildings. The use ofDynamic LCA in the calculation of the Building Lifecycle Analysis encourages the use of this type of material.
What are the main obstacles to the adoption and widespread use of biobased materials?
In terms of production: these manufactured products are standardized, and pose no technical or know-how problems. On the other hand, French industrial capacity is currently insufficient to meet construction demand, which has risen sharply in recent years. This also contributes to the fact that prices for these materials are currently higher than for the mineral and fossil materials traditionally used.
Their use requires special know-how, and they are subject to assembly and installation standards that must be supervised and technically inspected. The risks of incorrect installation or use can include greater sensitivity to humidity and increased risk of fire. Nevertheless, the industry has been quick to develop its skills in these areas, mastering complex systems and taking into account the defects and qualities of each product.
Finally, there is still a strong need for awareness-raising, information and training in the construction industry, particularly among project owners, on the use of these materials. They need guidance and advice on projects that can incorporate biobased materials and products, and on possible uses.
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