Biobased construction profitable up to sixty meters
(Photo: WUR)
June 27, 2024 – Biobased building, or building with materials from biomass such as wood and fiber crops, can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Traditional building materials such as concrete and steel produce high emissions through their production processes. Wageningen University and Research (WUR) is conducting research into the feasibility of large-scale use of biobased materials, where sustainability and availability of raw materials are crucial.
Although wood stores CO2 and is more environmentally friendly than steel or concrete, there are limitations. In high-rise buildings, wood becomes less efficient because the amount required increases exponentially with the height of the building. Biobased construction becomes less profitable for buildings above sixty meters. A hybrid approach, combining wood with concrete or steel, offers a partial solution.
The availability of wood and other biobased materials is another point of attention. There is currently sufficient wood, but if the whole of Europe switches to bio-based construction, scarcity may arise. Creating more production forests and encouraging fibre cultivation are possible solutions. Adding 250 thousand hectares of forest in the Netherlands would help, but this takes time and space. Investing in bio-based construction is a long-term strategy that will benefit future generations, provided raw materials are used efficiently.
