As cities grow and the demand for sustainable construction increases, the traditional reliance on fossil fuel-based materials exacerbates environmental degradation and carbon emissions. Biobased materials address these issues by offering a renewable, eco-friendly alternative that reduces the urban carbon footprint while promoting healthier living environments.
Biobased materials are derived from renewable biological resources such as plants, algae, fungi and agricultural waste. These materials can be utilised in various construction applications, from structural components to insulation and finishes. The process typically involves extracting natural fibres, such as hemp, flax, or bamboo, and combining them with bio-resins or other biodegradable binders to create strong, durable, and versatile building materials. Advances in biotechnology and materials science have significantly improved the performance and cost-effectiveness of biobased materials, making them viable for mainstream construction.
As urban areas strive to achieve sustainability goals and mitigate climate change, using renewable resources becomes crucial. Biobased materials help reduce reliance on non-renewable resources, lower greenhouse gas emissions during production and offer improved end-of-life disposal options, such as composting or recycling. Additionally, these materials often contribute to better indoor air quality and thermal performance, enhancing the overall health and comfort of urban dwellers.
Furthermore, biobased materials support a circular economy by promoting the use of local agricultural by-products and waste streams, thus reducing transportation emissions and fostering local economies. This decentralised approach to material sourcing and production can lead to more resilient urban communities capable of adapting to changing environmental and economic conditions.
A biotechnology company that grows cement tiles using bacteria, eliminating the need for firing.
A company developing zero-carbon building materials using microalgae.
A manufacturer of hemp-based building materials, specifically HempWool insulation.
A materials company transforming wood waste into carbon-negative biochar thermoplastics.
Netherlands · Startup
A spin-off from TU Delft that produces self-healing concrete using limestone-producing bacteria to repair cracks autonomously.
Spain · Startup
A circular materials company that turns cellulose waste from the paper industry into non-toxic construction boards.
Italy · Startup
An Italian company converting rice by-products (husk and straw) into natural construction materials.
Arup
United Kingdom · Company
A multinational professional services firm dedicated to sustainable development, known for pioneering the use of BIM in complex engineering projects.
A biotechnology company that produces Fine Mycelium, a leather alternative.
Paper
Circular pathways in construction: environmental life cycle assessment of bio-based fiber-reinforced building componentFrontiers in Sustainability · Jan 9, 2026
This study evaluates the environmental benefits of replacing traditional steel reinforcement in construction with recycled bio-based hemp and bamboo fibers, demonstrating a circular pathway for building components.
Paper
Prospects for using plant-based biomass in the construction of bio-based housesFrontiers in Plant Science · Oct 14, 2025
Discusses the potential of using diverse plant biomass sources like wood, lignocellulosic biomass, and plant fibers to manufacture bio-based materials that can transform buildings into net carbon sinks.
Paper
High-strength, multi-mode processable bamboo molecular bioplastic enabled by solvent-shaping regulationNature Communications · Oct 7, 2025
Describes a high-strength bamboo molecular bioplastic developed via solvent-shaping regulation, offering a sustainable alternative to petrochemical plastics with high performance and circularity.
Paper
Biomimetic self-reinforcing recyclable biomass-derived inherently-safe sustainable materialsNature Communications · Nov 3, 2025
Presents a self-reinforcing, recyclable biomass-derived material designed to replace petrochemical plastics, addressing performance deterioration and environmental aging issues.
Article
From Lab to Market: Startups Pioneering the Biomaterials Industryplugandplaytechcenter.com
While traditional materials like plastic, synthetic threads, and fossil fuels have improved cost, efficiency, and convenience, they’ve seriously damaged our environment, making it critical for us to change. New sustainability innovations like biomaterials - sustainable, biodegradable materials created from biomass - have brought us hope, eliminating negative impacts and delivering positive environmental effects.
Article
Does ‘biobased’ always mean ‘more sustainable’?ecochain.com
Biobased’ refers to materials that are made from renewable resources and consist at least partially of biological materials. Sounds very environmentally friendly. But is it really always more sustainable than a non-biobased product? Let’s find out.
Article
WHY THE BIO-BASED MATERIALS MARKET IS FINALLY POISED FOR GROWTHadlittle.com
For decades, the market for bio-based materials[1] has been seen as promising without significantly taking off. Challenges in sourcing affordable and sustainable raw materials, achieving economies of scale, and securing sufficient end-market demand have all prevented the market from growing.
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Biobased Materials: The Latest Architecture and Newsarchdaily.com
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Advanced Applications of Biobased Materialsshop.elsevier.com
Advanced Applications of Biobased Materials: Food, Biomedical, and Environmental Applications brings together cutting-edge developments in the preparation and application of biobased materials. This book begins by providing an overview of biobased materials, their classification, and their physical and chemical modifications. This is followed by a section covering the latest techniques in fabrication, processing, and characterization. Subsequent chapters are grouped by application area, offering insights into advanced and emerging utilizations of biobased materials in food, biomedical, environmental, and other industrial applications. The final part of the book highlights other key considerations, including life cycle assessment, circular economy, sustainability, and future potential.
Article
A review on recent research on bio-based building materials and their applicationslink.springer.com
Bio-based materials represent a promising alternative in building envelope applications, with the aim of improving in-use energy efficiency. They have the advantage of being renewable, low embodied energy and CO2 neutral or negative. In addition, they are excellent thermal regulators. This paper presents an overview of the state-of-the-art of bio-based materials used in building construction and their applications. The materials outlined include hemp, wood, date palm wood, cork, alfa and straw. Through this literature study we want to get a broad overview of the current state of theoretical and experimental studies of their hygrothermal characteristics and their thermal and energy performances. The aim is not to be exhaustive but to summarise the most important research results on these materials. This is the first part of a research work that deals with the contribution to the development of a new bio-based construction material to be used in building.
Article
Bio-Based Materialsciencedirect.com
Bio-based materials, like all materials, are likely to experience a range of environments and challenges that can affect the performance of the material, such as the effects of weathering and moisture. In addition, as bio-based materials are organic in their nature, this means that they are likely to be susceptible to attack by natural organisms ranging from bacteria and fungi to insects and higher animals. When developing new materials and testing existing materials for suitability for specific uses, the material ultimately has to be tested against the specific environment or organisms involved. Service and performance data – how well a product performs in use – are critical and essential. However, commercial and legislative pressures make performance testing essential during product development. There is a need for a range of differing test methods to ensure material performance is tested under the widest range of environments and challenges as possible.
Article
Emerging Bio-Based Polymers from Lab to Market: Current Strategies, Market Dynamics and Research Trendsmdpi.com
Due to the rising worldwide demand for green chemicals, the bio-based polymer market is anticipated to expand substantially in the future. The synthesis of functional polymers has been a burgeoning area of research for decades. The primary driving force behind the development of bio-based polymers has been their compostability and biodegradability, which are critical given the public concern about waste. Significant advancements in the method for refining biomass raw materials towards the creation of bio-based construction materials and products are driving this rise. Bio-based polymers with this chemical structure are more flexible and adaptive, which allows them to attain their intended characteristics and functionalities. In commercial applications and healthcare and biotechnology, where completely manufactured, naturally occurring biomolecules are utilized and such polymers have the greatest impact. At the same time, limitations in polymer architectural control, biostability, and structural dynamics hinder the creation of biocompatible and functionally varied polymers. From this standpoint, the importance of functional biosynthetic polymers in the future years is highlighted, as well as new methods for addressing the aforementioned challenges. The article comprehensively highlighted the current strategies, market dynamics, and research trends of emerging Bio-Based Polymers. In addition, the most recent scientific breakthroughs in bio-based polymers are discussed.
Article
Bio-based productssingle-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
Bio-based products can offer numerous benefits for the economy, society and the environment. They promote sustainable and circular practices and drive innovation to address some of the pressing challenges of our society – including climate mitigation and adaptation, transitioning to a green industry, food supply and security, and human health. Bio-based products enhance the EU’s open strategic autonomy and resilience by reducing dependency on fossil-based resources (crude oil, natural gas, and coal) and other raw materials that are imported to the EU.
Article
WHAT ARE BIO-BASED MATERIALS?stahl.com
Many industrial chemicals are traditionally made using fossil-based raw materials, which come from non-renewable sources. ‘Bio-based’ materials, on the other hand, are created using renewable biomass sources. These sources commonly include plants, animals, marine, and forestry materials. Other possible sources include waste from sugar refineries and the production of biofuels, as well as algae.
Article
Building tomorrow: 9 biobased materialsinrae.fr
Walls, floors, insulation materials, paints: more and more construction projects are utilising biobased materials. We take a closer look at 9 innovations that eschew non-renewable resources that were designed with the help of INRAE researchers.
