Construction

Introduction to Renewable
Building Materials Renewable Building
Factsheet
NNFCC
This Factsheet provides an introduction to the properties and advantages of renewable building materials. Renewable materials based on plants offer a
sustainable alternative to conventional products in many applications. Further Factsheets are available on renewable Insulation, Walls and Panels and Paints,
Primers and Varnishes.

What are renewable building Benefits

materials?
Renewable building materials are based on
plants, so we can replace them by growing more
plants. In contrast, most other building materials
are derived from raw materials that we cannot
replace, e.g. oil and metals. Renewable materials
are more sustainable.
Available products range from unprocessed
materials such as straw bales used for walling,
to more refined products such as floor coverings
from renewable polymers.
Five good reasons to use renewable building materials;
1. In our drive for low carbon homes,
plant-derived building materials are a
suitable, more sustainable, option as we
can produce them without exhausting our
natural resources
2. Plants absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide
while growing; so materials can lock-up
this greenhouse gas
3. Good insulation properties improve
energy efficiency and reduce bills
4. Unique properties: breathability, or more
pleasant to consumers, or less toxic, than
their non-renewable counterparts giving
healthy comfortable homes.
5. Raw materials can be grown and
processed locally, encouraging new
enterprise and putting the UK at the
forefront of new industries.

Why use renewable materials?

We need a fundamental rethink of how we build.

The UK’s construction industry produces 50% of
our greenhouse gas emissions and consumes 50%
of the materials extracted from the Earth’s crust.
Contact our Polymers and Materials
Using renewable materials will give a more
sustainable construction industry. Plants absorb
Sector Manager Dr John Williams
CO2 as they grow so renewable materials lock Tel: +44 (0) 1904 435182
this greenhouse gas in to buildings. Renewable
materials can reduce our greenhouse gas enquiries@nnfcc.co.uk
emissions and reduce our use of finite resources
without compromising on price or aesthetics. www.nnfcc.co.uk
 Examples of renewable building materials
Insulation
Renewable insulation can at least match the performance of market-
leading mineral materials while still reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and minimising use of non-renewable resources. Available materials
include flax, hemp, sheep’s wool and recycled paper.

Timber

Strong and durable, timber is a traditional material with modern

applications. Timber from sustainably managed forests locks away carbon
dioxide, and as timber frames need less energy to manufacture than non-
renewable equivalents, a timber framed home can save 4 tonnes of CO2.

Walls and panels

Hemp and lime, wood, straw bales and straw panels can all be used.
They can deliver high levels of airtightness and vapour permeability. And
some offer excellent insulation. This will reduce household bills and CO2
emissions.

Paints and varnishes

Renewable paints and varnishes can perform as well as conventional
products. They offer reduced odour and reduced volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Many are vapour permeable or ‘breathable’ to allow
moisture trapped in the wall to escape.
building hemp and lime walls at The Renewable House
Flooring

A range of natural and renewable materials are available for use as

flooring materials and floor coverings. These range from hemp and lime
Useful Links
mixtures that can be used as a concrete substitute, to linoleum made from NNFCC factsheets and Shopping Guide for
linseed oil, to carpets made of natural fibres such as sisal, wool and jute. consumers: www.nnfcc.co.uk

Where can I buy these products? The Renewable House

www.renewable-house.co.uk
The majority of renewable construction materials are available through a small number of UK outlets, often by
mail order. However, some are reaching mainstream suppliers including builders’ yards. Suppliers of specific Renewable Building Thematic Working Group
products are listed on our other construction factsheets. A list of renewable construction products available in www.nnfcc-rb.co.uk
the UK is found in our on-line ‘Shopping Guide’ for consumers at www.nnfcc.co.uk.
March 2010