Examples of Organic Building Materials

Organic building materials have a lot to offer your construction project. Not only do materials derived from living matter have a lower impact on the planet, but they also create more pleasant spaces to spend time in. In fact, the World Green Building Council notes that green buildings have a positive impact on occupant wellbeing – improving sleep quality, cognitive function, and even mental health.

NORclad is a passionate advocate for the potential of organic materials to transform the construction industry. Our range of sustainable timber cladding is suitable for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications, and is both renewable and biodegradable. And it looks great too!

In this blog, we break down what an organic building material is and highlight some great examples.

What Are Organic Building Materials?

When we talk about organic building materials, we’re referring to any material that is derived from living matter and can be used in construction. To be truly classed as organic, these materials will be grown with minimal chemical fertiliser use. Those working on the construction of green or sustainable buildings often choose organic building materials because they have a host of advantageous natural properties like insulation and low embodied energy. They also align with the trend for biophilic design, helping architects create buildings that bring humans closer to nature.

Inside Outside Architecture – How to Leverage This Trending Design Style >

What Plants Can be Used for Building Materials?

A range of different plants can be used as effective materials in construction, including trees, grass, and hemp. Not only do these plants offer a sustainable alternative to inorganic materials that require large amounts of energy to manufacture, but they also provide their own unique benefits. Wood, for example, is cheap, easy to install, and has a low thermal conductivity.

Plants capture carbon during their growth, meaning the utilisation of plants in construction can actually help address the climate crisis. With the built environment accounting for a significant proportion of our global carbon footprint, using buildings themselves for carbon storage is an exciting solution.

Related: What is Green Architecture & Why is it Important?

Importance of Using Organic Building Materials

Many of the materials used in construction are harmful to the environment. Not only does the manufacture of, say, steel and aluminium consume vast amounts of energy, but the disposal of what we might call ‘traditional’ building materials also has its own impact. In fact, 32% of landfill waste comes from the construction and demolition of buildings. Organic materials, on the other hand, require low energy to grow, extract, and make suitable for construction, and degrade naturally at the end of their life. That’s why organic materials should always be considered as the primary option in construction, before more environmentally damaging alternatives.

Examples of Organic Building Materials

There are a range of different organic materials available. Below, we take you through some of the most effective options on the market.

Wood

Timber is one of the most popular building materials, and it’s also highly sustainable if sourced from well managed forests. Wood can be utilised in many different areas of construction, making a great option for façades, fences, structure, interiors and much more.

At NORclad, we supply a comprehensive range of timber cladding to architects, contractors, and self builders all over the UK. Explore our full range here.

Straw

Straw is an incredibly low impact building material, suitable for use as insulation in buildings with a timber frame, as material for the roof, or even for certain load-bearing applications. It has low thermal conductivity and grows quickly, meaning it readily renews itself following harvest.

Hemp

Hemp can grow up to four metres high in three months, and is naturally resistant to pests. It also absorbs atmospheric carbon twice as effectively as forests (between 8 and 15 tonnes of CO2 per hectare each year) making it an ideal carbon sink. In construction, hemp has numerous applications thanks to its strength and insulating abilities. In fact, it can even be used as the basis for a material called hempcrete – concrete’s sustainable alternative.

Cork

Cork trees readily replace their bark, making this a highly renewable resource that can be harvested without harming the tree. This bark is strong and resilient, providing good thermal and acoustic insulation. It also performs impressively when it comes to fire, water, and rot resistance. Due to these highly desirable properties, cork is in demand – used for applications as varied as flooring, insulation, exterior façade, and underlay.

Wool

Wool fibres form millions of air pockets, able to trap air and dramatically reduce the transmission of heat. Many types of insulation used today have a significant environmental impact. From polystyrene to fibreglass, these materials require energy-intensive manufacturing processes. With sheep’s wool renowned for its thermal power, it should be the first port of call for all insulation projects.

Discover more eco-friendly building materials here >

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Trusted Supplier of Timber Cladding

If you’re looking to enhance your building project with top quality, sustainable timber cladding, you can count on NORclad to deliver. With over 40 years experience, we’re one of the South West’s leading timber cladding suppliers, and we take our environmental commitments seriously. To us, nothing is more important than ensuring we make the most of this attractive, reliable, and economical material, whilst safeguarding forests for future generations.

Get in touch if you have any questions about our range, or go ahead and request a quote!

Learn more: How to Make Your Building More Sustainable

Learn more: Why Do Architects Use Wood?

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