The construction industry is entering a new era, driven by a growing awareness of the need to build in a more responsible and environmentally-friendly way. Renewable building materials are now an essential solution for meeting environmental challenges and the demands of industry professionals.
With climate concerns on the rise, and the rise of ecological regulations, renewable materials offer a response to several major challenges. Unlike conventional materials, they have a lower environmental impact, thanks to their ability to store carbon or their low-emission production. Whether wood or bio-sourced materials, these resources can be replenished rapidly, guaranteeing sustainable use.
New innovations make it possible to achieve levels of technical performance comparable to, or even superior to, traditional materials.
In this article, we explore this new trend in renewable materials and present some of the most promising materials, including wood, ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete(UHPC) and carbon fiber.
We also invite you to listen to our podcast "Les Bâtisseurs" for in-depth discussions with industry experts.
Wood: a timeless classic
Wood is a renewable building material of choice, thanks to its ecological, aesthetic and functional characteristics. Produced from sustainably managed forests, it has a relatively short life cycle compared with other materials, making it a renewable and abundant resource.
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Forests absorb carbon dioxide(CO2) during photosynthesis, making wood a natural carbon sink. Using wood in construction therefore enables long-term carbon storage, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What's more, sustainable forest management ensures the continued regeneration of this ecosystem, while preserving biodiversity. Compared with materials such as concrete or steel, wood has a significantly lower carbon footprint. It requires less energy to process and transport, and can be recycled at the end of its life, reducing waste.
Wood is also appreciated for its functional qualities. Light yet strong, it offers excellent mechanical strength for its weight. Its flexibility makes it suitable for a wide variety of structures, from traditional frameworks to modern glulam or CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) buildings. Its natural insulating properties reduce energy requirements for heating and cooling buildings.
What's more, studies show that environments containing wood promote well-being, reducing stress and improving productivity.
Pascal Chazal, President of Groupe Hors Site, was our guest on one of the episodes of our podcast Les Bâtisseurs. Committed to the emergence of wood construction, he tells us how to build more responsibly, while cutting construction time by a factor of 2, and thus benefiting from greater efficiency.
UHPC: the new generation of concrete
Béton Fibré Ultra-Performant (BFUP), also known as Ultra-High Performance Concrete(UHPC), is a revolutionary construction material. Its innovative composition and exceptional mechanical properties make it a preferred choice for demanding structural applications.
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The latter is characterized by a cementitious matrix reinforced with fibers, often metallic or synthetic, which considerably improve its strength. Its formulation includes cement, fine aggregates, silica fume, superplasticizers and fibers.
Thiscombination gives it a compressive strength in excess of 150 MPa and a flexural tensile strength of up to 50 MPa. Dominique Corvez, president of XtreeE, tells us all about it in detail, right here. What's more, its durability is enhanced by very low porosity, making it resistant to chemical attack and freeze-thaw.
The high mechanical properties of UHPC make it possible to create slimmer, lighter and more elegant structures, without compromising their robustness. Its ductility, due to the presence of fibers, reduces the risk of cracking and improves its ability to absorb shocks. What's more, its high resistance to abrasion and environmental aggression makes it the material of choice for structures exposed to extreme conditions.
UHPC is used in a variety of applications, from bridges to architectural facades. In bridge construction, it allows longer spans with thinner sections, reducing the overall weight of structures. In architecture, it enables the creation of complex shapes and delicately patterned facades. It is also used to reinforce or repair existing structures, thanks to its ability to adhere to traditional materials.
Although the production of UHPC requires more cement than ordinary concrete, its durability and longevity reduce long-term maintenance and replacement costs. What's more, the use of thinner sections reduces the total quantity of materials required, thus minimizing the overall environmental impact.
Carbon fiber: light and strong
Carbon fiber is an extremely light and strong composite material. It is made from carbon filaments woven together and impregnated with resin to form solid structures. These filaments are interlaced to form continuous fibers or fabrics, which are then incorporated into a polymer matrix to create composite materials.
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Carbon fiber offers exceptional mechanical strength, with tensile strengths often exceeding 3,500 MPa. Despite this strength, it remains very light, with a density of around 1.8 g/cm³, less than half that of steel. What's more, it is resistant to corrosion and fatigue, making it ideal for demanding environments. Stéphane Le Diraison, Time For Oceans skipper and engineer, tells us how fibers helped him build his Imoca.
In the construction sector, carbon fiber is often used to reinforce concrete and steel structures, thanks to its ability to increase strength without adding significant weight. Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Systems (CFRP) are commonly used to repair aging bridges, buildings and other infrastructure. What's more, its flexibility enables the creation of innovative architectural forms.
Although carbon fiber production is energy-intensive, using the material in lightweight, sustainable applications reduces overall energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Its long life and recyclable properties also make it a more sustainable option in the long term.
These renewable, high-performance materials are proof that modern construction can combine innovation, sustainability and aesthetics. As ecological regulations tighten and climate concerns grow, they represent the future of more responsible architecture.
To find out more about these advances and hear from industry experts, we invite you to explore our podcast.