Bio-based materials webinar targets

A free 45-minute webinar will examine the role of bio-based materials in creating lower-carbon buildings. The event is sponsored by Kingspan and hosted in partnership with STEICO and its industry partners, according to a report by edie.

Sustainability and design professionals face mounting pressure to decarbonise both new and existing buildings. This requires assessing operational energy use alongside embodied carbon, material longevity, and supply chain resilience. The relentless drive to cut carbon emissions forces a stark choice: ignore the building blocks or embrace them.

The session aims to provide practical insights into material specification and circular economy principles. It will help attendees understand the opportunities and considerations involved in using bio-based resources.

The State of England's Housing Stock

The webinar will first examine the current condition of England's building stock. Experts will outline what must change to reduce overheating and improve occupant comfort. Supporting the transition to lower-carbon buildings is a key goal. This analysis, relevant to national standings on carbon reduction, sets the stage for discussing alternative materials.

Potential of Bio-Based Materials

A core discussion point will be how bio-based materials can support whole-life carbon reduction. This involves both lowering embodied carbon and enabling the storage of biogenic carbon. Materials like wood fibre are derived from renewable biological sources.

"They will also explore the potential for bio-based materials to reduce whole-life carbon through lower embodied emissions and the storage of biogenic carbon," the source states. These materials represent some of construction's oldest resources, now being re-evaluated for modern needs. The answer involves more than lower embodied emissions; it includes material longevity and end-of-life options.

Practical Considerations for Professionals

The final segment will address practical considerations for sustainability and building design professionals. Topics will range from enabling circular economy principles to effective material specification. Understanding supply chain resilience is also a key factor for project planning.

The webinar format includes 30 minutes of expert discussion followed by a 15-minute audience Q&A. This allows attendees to put questions directly to the speakers. The session will provide insights that can inform future project specifications and team strategies.

Registration for the webinar is free. The event seeks to drive a fresh look at construction materials to shape tomorrow's carbon footprint.