In connection with the Biobased Construction Materials conference the 20 & 21 August, here is an exciting article about the global developments in sustainable and climate-friendly building materials. The article highlights the Built by Nature Prize and innovative projects like Sugarcrete®, which you can also learn more about at the conference.
Read an exciting article by the team behind the Built by Nature Prize.
Our built environment is at a crossroads. Over the next 30 years, the global footprint of buildings is expected to double, with 80% of this expansion taking place in the Global South. Meanwhile, construction is already responsible for around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with carbon-intensive materials like concrete and steel accounting for a quarter of that. Continuing to build as we have, with materials that deplete ecosystems and accelerate climate change, is no longer an option.
Yet solutions are already at hand. Some of the oldest building materials known to humanity, natural, renewable, biobased materials, are being rediscovered and reimagined for modern construction. The Built by Nature Prize 2024 set out to uncover the most promising of these innovations from across the world. The response was remarkable: nearly 300 submissions, representing every continent, offered bold visions for how biobased materials can help create a built environment that works in harmony with nature.
The Built by Nature Prize 2024: showcasing scalable innovation
Launched as the world’s first global prize for biobased construction materials, the Built by Nature Prize sought to spotlight and support scalable, market-ready solutions. The aim was clear: accelerate the uptake of biobased materials that reduce carbon emissions, regenerate ecosystems, and create positive outcomes for local communities.
Last year’s winners exemplify what is possible when innovation meets impact:
- Widuz (Singapore) — The first-prize winner’s Bamboo Veneer Lumber (BVL™) is a high-performance biocomposite that combines fast-growing bamboo fibres with biobased adhesives. BVL™ is up to three times stronger than engineered timber, 20% lighter, and boasts a carbon footprint 40% lower than conventional structural materials. Widuz is not only pushing the boundaries of bamboo technology but also creating rural employment through ethical sourcing partnerships with FSC-certified plantations.
- Casa Congo (Nicaragua) — The KuNa modular bamboo-adobe housing system offers resilient, low-carbon homes designed for rapid deployment in disaster-hit and low-income communities. With a 70% lower carbon footprint than traditional housing, KuNa homes are already providing shelter in Nicaragua, with plans to scale across Latin America, demonstrating bamboo’s power to deliver both environmental and social value.
- Elementerre (Senegal) — By transforming invasive Typha grass into load-bearing bricks and insulation panels, Elementerre turns an ecological problem into a housing solution. Their work reduces reliance on carbon-intensive materials, restores biodiversity, and provides affordable housing for low- and middle-income families, all while creating jobs in local value chains.
- Sugarcrete® (India/UK) — Developed by the University of East London and partners, Sugarcrete® transforms bagasse — the fibrous residue from sugarcane, into durable, modular construction blocks. These blocks lock in carbon, minimise waste, and offer a cost-effective alternative to concrete, with added benefits like superior thermal insulation. A pilot school project in India’s sugarcane belt is already showcasing Sugarcrete®’s potential for community-driven, sustainable construction.
Other finalists, from seaweed-based panels in the Netherlands (BlueBlocks) to coconut husk wood alternatives in Ghana (Ecovon), demonstrate the richness of biobased innovation globally.
From innovation to implementation
While the ingenuity of these solutions is undeniable, scaling them to mainstream construction remains a challenge. Certification processes, market perceptions, fragmented value chains, and policy gaps can all slow adoption. Market perceptions often lag behind reality, with outdated concerns blocking the way. And without supportive policies and integrated supply chains, these solutions struggle to find their way into mainstream construction. That’s why the Built by Nature Prize offers more than funding: mentoring, coaching, and industry connections help bridge the gap between innovation and implementation. The goal is not just to celebrate new materials, but to embed them in the fabric of our cities.
Looking Ahead: Principles and the 2025 Prize
As we look to the future, Built by Nature is deepening its commitment to responsible, regenerative construction through initiatives like the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction. These principles establish a common language and global framework to ensure that increased demand for wood is managed responsibly. They maximise benefits for climate, nature, and people, while supporting forests, transforming the built environment, and enabling thriving bioeconomies. Many of the 2024 Prize innovations already embody these principles, whether through ethical sourcing, circular production or community empowerment.
The Built by Nature Prize 2025 builds on this foundation, seeking the next wave of biobased solutions that can be scaled across the globe. Innovators, developers, policymakers, and communities are invited to join this movement to help create a built environment in harmony with nature.
It’s Time to Build in Harmony With Nature
Biobased materials are not just an alternative, they are essential for a regenerative future. From bamboo forests in Asia to sugarcane fields in India and seaweed farms in Europe, nature offers us the resources we need to build cities that work with, not against, the planet.
The transformation is already underway. Now is the time to accelerate it, through the materials we choose, the principles we uphold, and the future we build together.
At the conference, you can learn more about the Built by Nature Prize and the groundbreaking Sugarcrete® project. Learn more about the conference and sign up here.
