Unique Ways Your Home Renovation Can Bloom With Bio-Based Materials
Are you considering using bio-based materials for your home renovation? These greener alternatives improve indoor comfort and help homeowners reduce their carbon footprint.
Much of new construction has taken on sustainability in its designs — particularly concerning materials used. However, it’s also possible to retrofit existing homes and buildings for eco-friendliness with bio-based matter.
Here are examples of bio-based materials available for your home renovation and how to integrate them. There may even be ways of improving your home’s sustainability you hadn’t thought of before.
What Are Bio-Based Materials?
There’s been an increasing awareness of climate change and loss of biodiversity, so it’s little surprise more homeowners are looking to renovate their homes with green products.
Bio-based materials derive from renewable sources, such as agricultural debris, recycled items and plants. They are more sustainable than traditional materials in how they are sourced and manufactured for construction purposes.
The following are examples of bio-based materials you might use in your home improvement projects:
- Bamboo
- Reclaimed wood
- Recycled or compressed paper
- Recycled glass
- Cork
- Tile
- Soapstone
- Concrete
- Cellulose
- Linoleum
- Slate
- Hemp
You can employ these materials in various applications throughout your home. However, you must consider your lifestyle and requirements. Some items demand more upkeep than others, and you should also consider how they match your style preferences.
6 Bio-Based Materials for Your Home Renovation
Homeowners may be surprised to learn of the many ways they can integrate bio-based materials into their projects. These six examples of bio-based materials are perfect for your home renovation.
Insulation
Adding new insulation improves your home’s comfort by trapping warm air inside and preventing cold air from entering. However, you have options with which bio-based materials you want to use.
Cellulose, sheep’s wool, olive stone granules and hemp are all viable, renewable choices. For instance, hemp takes only one year to grow and replenish itself, compared to wood fibre materials, which take 20-60 years to regrow.
Save energy and money on utilities by opting for bio-based insulation for your walls, loft and floors.
Paints and Coatings
Consider using bio-based paints and coatings if your home is in for a colour refresh. Traditional paints and resins are derived from petroleum. However, these sustainable alternatives are manufactured using plants and vegetable oils instead.
They also contain less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxins, which may harm you. The U.K. Air Pollution Information System says solvents account for 30% of VOC emissions in the United Kingdom.
Flooring
The global market for eco-friendly flooring products is expected to grow by 3.4% between 2022 and 2032 — valued at $117.9 billion. This is primarily due to an increasing consumer demand for sustainably sourced construction materials.
Examples of bio-based materials for flooring include cork, linoleum and bamboo. The latter, in particular, is highly sustainable and durable for green construction. Bamboo grows three times faster than other trees, taking three to five years to reach maturity. Conversely, wood used for standard hardwood flooring takes 50-100 years to mature.
Manual harvesting is best for preventing damage to bamboo — it is also more sustainable than heavy clearing machinery. Rotary cutters can cut through bamboo fibres easily without ruining the surrounding landscape. They also allow manufacturers to trim trees at an angle, if necessary.
Countertops
Granite and quartz countertops have become increasingly popular in kitchens and bathrooms. However, there are more sustainable options to choose from.
Bamboo, concrete, recycled paper and glass, tile, slate, soapstone and timber are excellent bio-based materials for countertops in your home renovation.
Regardless of your selection, you must consider how well the materials will hold up against heat, water, stains and weight. Your bio-based countertop will last decades with the proper maintenance and use.
Tiles and Backsplashes
You can use many of the same bio-based countertop materials for floor and backsplash tiles. Glass tiles are beautiful as kitchen backsplashes, giving off a glossy appearance in various colours.
Recycled glass is derived from different sources, including car windshields and bottles, and is fused with an adhesive. Some recycled glass is melted down to create a solid colour. Other times, homeowners might want a mosaic pattern instead.
The U.K. is set to close the glass recycling loop by 90% by 2030 after reaching 79% in 2020. In fact, 13.8 million tons of recycled glass are melted for new glass materials annually.
Cabinetry and Shelving
Enhance the look of your kitchen using bio-based materials for cabinetry and shelving. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified bamboo, recycled timber and plywood will bring nature into the space without harming the natural world and your health.
The FSC label ensures proper management of forests for enhanced biodiversity, livelihoods and economy. Products with the FSC logo have met stringent environmental, social and economic standards to earn certification.
Conversely, traditional cabinetry and shelving could emit harmful toxins in your home. For example, newly constructed MDF shelving and wardrobes released 13 times the allowed amount of formaldehyde in one London couple’s home in 2017, causing their eyes to sting despite ventilation.
Create a Greener Household With Bio-Based Materials
Using bio-based materials during renovations brings you closer to a greener home. Of course, you’ll want guidance to make the best decisions. Work with a highly skilled contractor to discover which items are best for your project and lifestyle.
