Biodegradable Building Materials

🏗️ Growing the Future: 3D-Printed Mycelium Imagine buildings that grow, self-repair, and decompose naturally when no longer needed. Researchers have developed a 3D-printing method for mycelium biocomposites, eliminating the need for molds and unlocking new possibilities for sustainable, biodegradable materials. Using spent coffee grounds as a substrate, this innovation turns waste into strong, compostable structures—a game-changer for packaging, architecture, and beyond. 🤓 Geek Mode Traditional mycelium-based materials require molds, which limit design flexibility. This study introduces: Mycofluid: A 3D-printable mycelium paste made from 73% spent coffee grounds. Fungibot: A custom extruder that prints living biomaterial. Mycostructure: A process where printed parts grow together, fusing into seamless, self-supporting structures. By fine-tuning viscosity, growth conditions, and extrusion techniques, the team produced mechanically robust biocomposites. The printed objects self-colonize with fungi, creating hydrophobic surfaces that resist water while retaining biodegradability. 💼 Opportunity for VCs This technology offers a paradigm shift in materials science. It opens doors for: - Sustainable packaging that replaces polystyrene. - Biodegradable furniture and structures that grow and adapt. - Self-healing biomaterials for modular, repairable buildings. - Carbon-negative manufacturing with hyper-local supply chains. VCs investing in biofabrication, circular economy, and sustainable construction should take note—this is the frontier of regenerative materials. 🌍 Humanity-Level Impact Instead of mining, melting, or molding, we can grow what we need: 1️⃣Carbon-neutral cities, where buildings decompose instead of turning into waste. 2️⃣Mars-ready habitats, using fungi to construct and self-repair in extreme environments. 3️⃣A circular bioeconomy, where waste (like coffee grounds) fuels innovation. This isn’t just eco-friendly tech—it’s nature’s blueprint, optimized for modern fabrication. 📄 Link to original study: https://lnkd.in/gQNsTVEP #DeepTech #VentureCapital #Biomaterials #3DPrinting #CircularEconomy

This patented vegetal concrete, developed by GreenJams, a sustainable building materials company based in Visakhapatnam, Agrocrete, is made by combining agricultural residues with a mineral binder and water, which is then cured under pressure. By repurposing crop residues that would otherwise be burned and contribute to carbon emissions, Agrocrete not only reduces environmental impact but also becomes carbon-negative, meaning it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during production. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 - Strength and Durability: Matches traditional concrete in strength and durability. - Thermal Insulation: Offers 350% higher thermal insulation compared to conventional concrete, making it ideal for energy-efficient building designs. - Cost-Effective: Costs only about 50% of traditional concrete, making it an affordable option for various construction projects. - Environmental Impact: For every 1,000 square feet built using Agrocrete, approximately 0.4 tonnes of CO2 are captured, and 13.71 tonnes of CO2 emissions are prevented. - Versatility: Can be molded into hollow bricks of various sizes, providing flexibility for different construction needs. 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 - Carbon Negative: With an embodied carbon of -0.14 kgCO2/kg, Agrocrete helps in reducing the carbon footprint of new constructions. - Non Toxic and Resilient: This material is fire-resistant, pest-resistant, non-toxic, and boasts a lifespan exceeding 75 years. How can the construction industry further innovate to make sustainable building materials the norm rather than the exception? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups

Building Blocks from Sugarcane Waste 🌎 A new construction material, Sugarcrete, is transforming the industry. Developed by the University of East London and Architecture Studio Grimshaw, it’s made from 'bagasse,' the fibrous waste left after extracting sugar from sugarcane. This material offers a sustainable alternative to concrete, addressing the need for low-carbon building solutions. Sugarcrete cuts curing time from 28 days, typical for concrete, down to just one week. This advancement provides a more efficient process for construction, allowing for faster project completion without sacrificing quality. Weighing four to five times less than concrete blocks, Sugarcrete is easier to handle and transport, reducing logistical challenges on-site. Its lighter weight also opens up possibilities for innovative building designs that rely on less structural support. Environmentally, Sugarcrete uses only 15-20% of the carbon footprint associated with concrete. This significantly reduces emissions in the construction process, contributing to global efforts to lower the carbon impact of the built environment. In addition to its environmental benefits, Sugarcrete offers a cost-effective solution for construction, with lower production and transportation costs. It’s a strong contender for wide-scale adoption in an industry increasingly focused on sustainable development. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #circularity #circular

Sweden built a transparent wood that’s stronger than glass and insulates better than plastic Inside a materials science center in Stockholm, Swedish researchers have unveiled a futuristic building material that looks like frosted glass — but it’s actually transparent wood. By chemically removing lignin (the dark pigment in wood) and replacing it with a sustainable polymer, scientists have created a glass-like material that’s stronger, lighter, and better insulated than anything on the market. The process starts with thin sheets of birch or pine, which are bleached until nearly colorless. Then, the empty cellular structure is filled with a bioplastic that matches the refractive index of the original wood — making it translucent, even transparent, while preserving the grain and strength. The result is stunning: a shatterproof, lightweight panel that transmits light but blocks heat. It’s perfect for windows, solar panels, or even walls that let in natural light while keeping out the cold. Early trials show buildings made with this wood require up to 60% less heating energy than those with standard glass. Because it’s wood at the molecular level, it’s biodegradable, flexible, and shock-resistant. It won’t splinter like glass or deform like plastic. And it can be made from fast-growing, low-cost timber, making it an ideal material for sustainable architecture in harsh climates. Sweden’s innovation isn’t just an aesthetic breakthrough — it could redefine how buildings look, breathe, and function. Imagine greenhouses, buses, or even phone screens made from organic wood-glass that flexes, glows, and self-repairs. The material has already been licensed by multiple European firms for commercial use in skylights, solar energy facades, and hurricane-resistant shelters. #innovation #heatblocker #housing

A research project in Germany led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research has come up with an innovative way increasing the construction industry’s sustainability and recycling waste. The outcome? High-quality and durable building materials made from rubble and plant waste and progressing net-zero in the sector. Using waste from concrete, masonry and agricultural products, the team of researchers created recycled concrete that is reinforced by plant fibers. Interestingly, they found that ash from burnt rice husks is more than an adequate substitute for cement, and sawdust, and rice and wheat straws were sustainable materials for insulation. This is a significant milestone for diversifying how we go about constructing buildings, and can be one of many approaches to re-building areas destroyed during natural disasters or conflicts.