Food scraps can be turned into building materials
Today, pineapple, potatoes, mushrooms, corn, oranges and bananas belong to the staple food products. Tomorrow, they could be the backbone of our cities, according to a new report by a major engineering company.
Corn walls and rice bricks? Possible; A multinational construction company believes it is and proposes the recycling of organic waste for insulation, boards and other building materials. Throughout the Western world, construction is a major source of waste and pollution. The construction industry accounts for a significant proportion of CO2 emissions and millions of tonnes of waste, much of which can be attributed to the linear economy that runs the industry, which is based on a “take, make, waste” model, exploiting raw resources and recycling little.
In an effort to tackle this issue, construction firm Arup argues that industry should move towards a circular feedback economy that aims to recycle as much as possible, throw out as little waste as possible and use as few raw resources as possible. . They even believe that this can happen using food scraps as a material. About half of all food produced in the world ends up in the trash, representing about 60 million tons of food. Applying circular thinking to this issue in conjunction with construction waste could mean less product going to landfill, while at the same time building in recyclable building materials to keep construction waste out of landfills. They also consider that some materials could be grown normally as by-products, eliminating waste entirely. In the Urban Bio Loop exhibition, Arup envisions future buildings made from pineapples, potatoes, mushrooms, corn, oranges, bananas and more.
The company states in its report that the well-known "Business as usual" scenario is not an option for a sustainable future and that different development models must be found in order for our society to continue to grow and prosper in the future. He adds: “The construction industry needs to reflect this urgent need for change – possibly more than other industries. In fact, it is still permeated by various detrimental factors, such as the use of high-strength materials, irreversible building solutions, low-performance and manufacturing processes. The use of organic waste in construction would potentially allow the exploitation of its unrecognized value with a positive impact not only from an environmental point of view, but also from a technical, social and economic point of view," the researchers emphasize in their multi-page report.
In addition to determining the various environmental impacts of such an effort, the team also makes recommendations for the use of some materials. For example, they suggest incorporating peanut shells into flat boards for interior partitions, potato skins and cork for thermal insulation due to their low conductivity, fire performance and water repellency. Fibrous residues from bananas and from harvesting pineapples and bananas that are so light and durable can be incorporated into carpets and rugs.
Article source: www.itrofi.gr
