Bio-sourced materials are becoming essential in construction

Insulation made from hemp, grass, flax, cellulose wadding, straw, and wood-based concrete: bio-sourced materials are gaining popularity in France to decarbonize construction and adapt housing to the effects of climate change, according to a report released Wednesday, March 26.

All of these biomass-based materials will account for 11% of the building insulation market in 2023, compared to just 1% in 2009, the year the Association of Bio-Based Construction Manufacturers (AICB) was founded, which published its first "barometer" on Wednesday.

"With a 95% increase in volume since 2016 and a turnover reaching 91,6 million euros in 2023, the bio-sourced industry confirms its key role in the ecological transition of the building industry," underlines the AICB.

"We represent 19 processing units in France, close to agricultural production sites, and more than 4.000 jobs," emphasized Vincent Hannecart, president of AICB and general manager of Cavac biomaterials, specializing in hemp and plant fibers, a subsidiary of the Cavac agricultural cooperative in Vendée.

"Bio-sourced materials are benefiting from a strong positive trend linked to regulations in France," added Mr. Hannecart.

They benefit in particular from the climate-resilience law which sets a threshold of at least 1% bio-sourced or low-carbon materials for public renovations (schools, hospitals, etc.) from January 2030, 25.

But the sector, which has around fifteen members mainly in France and Belgium, is concerned about the "possible changes to the thresholds" of the French regulations known as RE2020, which sets strict regulatory frameworks for gradually greening new construction.

"The RE2020 and its various progressive thresholds are encouraging the use of more and more low-carbon products, but the 2028 thresholds could be re-evaluated (downwards) by the public authorities; we must be attentive," noted Yves Hustache, general delegate of AICB, during a press conference.

With the gradual mass production of their products, their prices have fallen, which improves their competitiveness compared to plastic-based insulation materials, which often have higher energy costs, estimates the AICB.

Among the trends, semi-rigid insulation, often used outdoors, is growing strongly, with 47% of the bio-sourced market compared to 20% in 2016, while loose insulation (for attics) is falling to 44% compared to 78% in 2016.

A newcomer, wood or hemp concrete takes 2% of the market whereas it did not exist in 2009, underlines the AICB.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.