Among the most notable recent breakthroughs in sustainable insulation materials...

Eco Print Earth 3 years ago

Among the most notable recent breakthroughs in sustainable insulation materials is Swiss-made @gramitherm_grassinsulation The company behind the new material has developed a unique production process that transforms grass into highly effective insulation. . Gramitherm sources its raw material from local farmers, and the company is committed to using all parts of the plant, including the juice. Fibres are extracted from the grass and dried before being opened and thermobonded into semi-rigid boards – a product that is light, strong, and environmentally friendly. These insulation boards are suitable for a variety of applications, and the digestible materials leftover from the production process are used for animal food and fertiliser. . . The company chose grass as a raw material as it is a highly efficient thermal insulator with an estimated lifetime of at least 50 years. The panels are also an efficient means of storing the carbon dioxide captured by the grass during its lifetime. In fact, Gramitherm’s insulation captures 1.5 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogramme of product. . The company claims that its manufacturing process uses only 75 per cent of the energy and less than 70 per cent of the water it takes to manufacture glass wool insulation. One acre of grass can yield 200 metres cubed of Gramithem, enough to insulate seven family houses. And if 1,000 acres of land were used to grow Gramithem, it would supply 5 per cent of Switzerland’s insulation market. . . . . Please Share your thoughts about this innovation in comments. . Source - Springwise @eco.medy . #planetorplastic #plasticfreeoceans #oceanplastic #sustainableinnovation #greentechnology #sustainablehousing #climatechangeisreal #lesswaste #wastefreeplanet #environmentallyfriendly #climateaction #noplanetb #reducewaste #zerowastelife #fridaysforfuture #covidwaste #plasticfreelife #plasticfreeoceans #stopanimalcruelty #ecofriendlylifestyle #climatechangeisreal #savethebees #ecofriendlyproducts #ecofootprintearth

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 27 minutes ago



Sustainable construction is moving beyond operational energy towards whole life carbon, embodied carbon and the harder-to-measure risks locked into land, materials, waste and regulation.

New WRI research estimating 3.9bn tonnes of annual carbon emissions from disturbed, drained or burned soils underlines why site preparation, drainage and earthworks must be treated as core climate decisions within whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment and life cycle cost planning.

Soil carbon loss now sits squarely within the carbon footprint of construction and should shape low carbon design, sustainable building design and environmental sustainability in construction.

Regulatory pressure is also building around chemicals and waste. The UK Health Security Agency’s investigation into PFAS exposure has direct implications for green building products, coatings, sealants, membranes and water-resistant systems used across construction supply chains. Sustainable material specification will need stronger evidence, including environmental product declarations (EPDs), scrutiny of embodied carbon in materials and clearer controls on hazardous substances. The Environment Agency’s limited use of enhanced powers for unlimited civil fines on waste offences exposes a gap between policy ambition and enforcement, but construction, one of the UK’s largest waste producers, should expect tougher expectations on resource efficiency in construction, end-of-life reuse in construction and circular economy in construction.

Market consolidation in recycling, including Biffa’s acquisition of Enva’s general recycling operations, signals rising demand for traceable recovery routes and circular construction strategies. Digital and offsite construction are also advancing from promise to delivery, with fully configured volumetric modules costed through to factory production. This supports low-impact construction, carbon footprint reduction and building lifecycle performance by cutting waste, rework and unnecessary material use.

Grid expansion remains essential, but net zero carbon buildings will depend on flexible demand, heat networks, storage, smart controls and energy-efficient buildings that use clean power intelligently. Net zero whole life carbon is becoming a systems challenge rather than a product claim. The future of sustainable building practices, eco-design for buildings and green infrastructure will be judged by measurable performance across soil carbon, low embodied carbon materials, chemistry, waste and real-time energy use. Green construction must now prove it can deliver genuine decarbonising the built environment outcomes, not simply market eco-friendly construction as an aspiration.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.

Let's chat!
Avatar

WLC Assistant

Ask me about sustainability

Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?