8 Sustainable Materials To Consider For Your Projects

Sustainability is a subject most of us have come across more than once, and perhaps the reason why you clicked this article is that you are mulling over materials for your next building project and you want it to be sustainable.

However, to further engage others who may be peeking into the sustainable industry for the first time; sustainable materials are useful materials that we can source in sufficient quantities without any damaging implications to non-renewable resources and environmental integrity.

Materials that we use to produce industrial-scale results without industrial-scale environmental implications. We save the planet, by opting for sustainable materials on our projects.

Whether you are a private project investor or a large-scaled contractor, the dividends of sustainable materials are apparent for immediate results and long scale impacts. We will be listing out few sustainable materials that you can consider on your next project.

• Bamboo: 

Bamboos can be a more efficient and vastly sustainable substitute to our traditional hardwood flooring. They are naturally quick-growing bushes and do not require a similar amount of time to regrow harvested resources. This makes it a superior alternative to hardwood which is sourced from mature trees that require years to replace. Furthermore, bamboos can add a new refreshing aesthetic feel to your home floor.

• Low thermal emissivity windows: 

Every choice we make in our home has a significant effect, but the windows are one of the aspects of a building with a priority level importance. Low thermal emissivity windows, simply known as low E windows are sustainable window glass products that are designed to absorb ultraviolet rays without emitting light back. This means that this type of windows will protect your home from gaining heat in the summertime, and prevent your home from losing heat in the wintertime, saving energy cost and provide efficient insulation. 

• Reclaimed Wood:

One of the values of making sustainable choices in construction is that it reduces landfills and mitigates environmental degradation as a result of avoidable construction waste landfills. By using reusing woods that are still in good shape instead of casting them off as waste, we reduce the demand for more wood sourcing actively reducing deforestation, and as mentioned above phasing the necessities of construction landfills. 

• Recycled Steel: 

Steels are necessary for contemporary buildings not just because they are much stronger, but they are a much durable alternative to wood. Environmental disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, make steel the primary option for building against natural traumas. By reusing steel sourced from previous projects, we reduce the environmental impacts of mining. Steels are a completely recyclable material which makes them a highly sustainable option.

• Cork:

Another alternative to hardwood, corks are very sustainable materials. They are sourced from trees without causing any significant damage to them, and tree bark can be harvested more than fifteen times in the duration of a tree’s lifetime. In addition to this, the hypoallergenic properties of cork, its fire-retardant nature, and water resistance make them a consumer-friendly material for home flooring.

• Sheep’s Wool Insulation: 

Sheep wool provides a highly sustainable alternative to chemical-based insulation materials. In addition to providing similar insulation capability of conventional insulation materials, it requires less energy to produce and is sourced from sustainable sources. Sheep wools are sourced from sheep without causing significant damage to them and they are just as easily grown back.

• Mycelium:

These are rootlike fibers found on mushrooms. Research has shown that these unexpectedly sturdy materials can be formed into any shape and they can withstand extreme temperatures. This makes mycelium an incredibly sustainable, compostable, and efficient insulation alternative for homes. 

• Ferrock:

This can be a sustainable alternative to concrete but its primary sustainable point is that ferrock can reduce the amount of waste bound for landfills. Ferrock is a product of steel dust or ferrous rock which are leftovers from industrial processes bound for landfills. By adding carbon dioxide, the result is an iron carbonate and this sturdy material can be alternated for concrete slabs. When considering designs for your pathways, driveways, staircases, and others, consider ferrocks as a viable sustainable option.