Regeneration In The Building Sector
Recycled plastic and fibre. Active Ingredients In Regenerative Construction Industry
“We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.”
~ R. Buckminster Fuller
This post is a prelude to an upcoming podcast episode with regenerative entrepreneur Justin Murray, the brains, passion and driving force behind a business that makes building materials poised to disrupt the building industry around the world.
His business is Qube Buildings.
His innovation, the Bio-SIP panel, enables the industry to provide accessible eco-friendly building materials, but also educate and inspire others to embrace sustainable construction practices.
Bio-SIP is a heroic story and celebration of what happens when one person’s vision is brought to life through courage and an undaunted willingness to step up, take on the consensus view and entrenched practices to be the embodied change in the world that we need.
My Regeneration
‘Making things better by making better things ’ is a phrase coined by Seth Godin, American author and coordinator of The Carbon Almanac that helps me focus on working with and celebrating businesses that are doing just that.
Rich with essays, graphs, cartoons, tables, and resources, the Almanac provides credible and authoritative information on carbon and its impact on the climate that is easy to access and share, and that people like us can understand.
As illustrated below, it is becoming increasingly evident that whilst adopting sustainable practices represents a step in the right direction, it is insufficient to restore and rebuild all of the five spheres1 that support life on our planet not just the atmosphere.
Far from becoming the latest buzzword in business, Regeneration is now fast replacing legacy sustainability, offering a powerful way for companies to actively contribute to the health of the planet while simultaneously growing key business metrics like sales, engagement and more.
Thick As A Brick
In the building industry, embodied carbon has become an increasingly important consideration in the effort to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
Embodied carbon refers to the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with all stages of a product or building's life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to the manufacturing, transportation, construction, use, and eventual disposal or recycling.
Reducing embodied carbon in buildings can help to reduce the industry's environmental impact.
The construction industry is responsible for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions. Traditional building materials, such as concrete and steel, have a significant negative environmental impact due to their high energy consumption during production and CO2 emissions. Additionally, they contribute to deforestation and habitat destruction when sourced from virgin materials.
Greenhouse gas emissions caused by the construction of new buildings and infrastructure, known as ‘embodied carbon emissions’, are a significant driver of climate change. This is also sometimes called “upfront carbon” as the impact is immediate.
These emissions amount to just under 50MtCO2e per year in the UK, a shocking figure that is vastly more than 10% of our national emissions.
The construction industry is responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions. Here are some estimates of the industry's contribution to global CO2 emissions:
The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction estimates that buildings and construction are responsible for 39% of global energy-related CO2 emissions.
The World Green Building Council estimates that 11% of global CO2 emissions come from embodied carbon in building materials and construction.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the construction industry is responsible for approximately 36% of global final energy consumption and nearly 40% of total direct and indirect CO2 emissions.
Another Brick In The Wall
Bricks are a common building material and contribute significantly to embodied carbon emissions in construction. The exact amount of CO2 emissions associated with bricks can vary depending on the type of brick and the manufacturing process. Here are some estimates2:
According to the Brick Development Association, the embodied carbon of fired clay brick in the UK is approximately 0.2 kg of CO2 per kg of brick.
A study by the University of Cambridge found that the embodied carbon of a standard brick in the UK is approximately 0.28 kg of CO2 per kg of brick.
In general, the manufacturing of bricks involves firing clay at high temperatures, which requires a significant amount of energy and produces CO2 emissions.
Added to this, concrete is one of the most commonly used building materials in the world and is responsible for a significant portion of embodied carbon emissions in construction.
The bottom line is that the building sector contributes 39 per cent of global CO2 emissions. And despite this embodied carbon emissions are unregulated in the UK.
Current policy and regulations focus solely on operational energy use, as distinct from embodied carbon, and there are currently no national planning policies or Building Regulation requirements to assess, report or reduce embodied carbon emissions.
It's worth noting that these estimates can vary depending on the sources and methodologies used to calculate emissions. However, it's clear that the construction industry has a significant impact on global carbon emissions, and reducing embodied carbon in buildings can be an important part of efforts to combat climate change.
Enter Bio-SIP™️ from QUBE Buildings - A Regenerative Approach To Building
Bio-SIP™️ is a bio-based structural insulated panel (SIP) building system.
Qube’s Bio-SIP™️ panels are eco-friendly building materials that use post-consumer waste (recycled plastic bottles) (PET) for the insulating core, and natural fibre skins for the structural facings.
Through careful sorting, crushing, granulation, and extrusion foaming, used plastic bottles are transformed into a strong, water-resistant foam core. This durable material is perfect for a variety of buildings and helps reduce plastic waste3.
The core that keeps warm and cool air separate, preventing heat transfer. The foam has a closed-cell structure with tiny air pockets, which provide energy-efficient insulation whatever the weather is doing outside.
Two exterior boards, made from flax fibres mixed with bio-resin, are bonded to this foam core. This creates a strong, waterproof, and lightweight exterior. Each panel weighs 50 Kilogrammes and can easily be lifted by two people making the building process itself relatively quick compared to other approaches.
Flax fibre, often used in tarpaulins and fishing nets, is known for its strength and water resistance. Using flax and similar materials in construction saves energy and captures CO2, helping to reduce our carbon footprint.
Bio-SIP™️ is versatile and is used to build a range of buildings such as:
Sustainable workplaces (e.g. office pods, collaboration work areas, data centres)
Temporary buildings (e.g. workshops, sports halls, commercial retail)
Holiday accommodation (e.g. forest lodges, holiday homes, agriculture buildings)
Qube Buildings’ Bio-SIP™ systems are designed to be dismantled easily and repurposed without the need for adhesives, allowing for the reuse and recycling of materials.
The overall difference is an 87 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide when compared to traditional panels with 88 per cent of the ingredients of each panel using waste materials.
Qube Buildings’ Bio-SIP™ systems are more than just innovative construction materials. They are a significant step towards a sustainable future, contributing to carbon reduction and material repurposing for a healthier planet.
For now, we’ll pause here having set the scene on regeneration in the construction sector and leave room for Justin to tell us more in his upcoming episode of The Pocket Dojō.
The Five Spheres are: Atmosphere, Biosphere (our living organisms, Lithosphere (our soil and earth), Hydrosphere (all water) and Anthroposphere (our human habitats)
It's important to note that these estimates are specific to the UK and may vary in other regions depending on local manufacturing practices and energy sources. Additionally, there are alternative brick manufacturing processes, such as air-dried or unfired bricks, that may have lower embodied carbon emissions.
Each panel uses 2000 recycled plastic bottles.
Wow. Really interesting Paul! Glad to read about this.