Bio-based building means building with materials that largely consist of renewable raw materials: timber, hemp, flax, straw or fibreboard. Because these crops absorb CO₂ as they grow, a bio-based component can have a lower — sometimes even negative — carbon footprint over its whole life than a conventional alternative.
Why now?
Interest is growing thanks to stricter sustainability requirements, the wish to use materials circularly and the search for alternatives to resource-intensive products. Timber construction and prefabricated timber elements also enable fast, dry and quiet building processes.
Points to watch
Moisture, fire safety and detailing call for knowledge and careful execution. Choose certified products, get the vapour-open or vapour-tight build-up right, and coordinate the design with your supplier and structural engineer. Done well, bio-based delivers not only an environmental benefit but also a pleasant, healthy indoor climate.