ABSTRACT
Sustainable innovations in construction materials have often focused on insulation products: for example, insulation made from sheep’s wool. Initially this material was made from surplus and waste processed wool from the carpet and textile industries. Newspaper is rolled up and stuck together with solvent-free glue to create a material like a timber log. It is cut into sealed, waterproof planks which are flame-retardant and may therefore have a specific use within construction for interiors. In the USA, as with many countries around the world, ‘disposable’ nappies account for 3.5 million tonnes of waste going to landfill, or about 20 billion nappies. There is also an interesting cluster of organic materials being developed into products like bricks, insulation and packing materials. As well as growing new organic materials, there is a lot of research into the reuse of agro-fibres – residue of plant fibres from the vast agricultural industries that are often burnt, allowed to biodegrade or, worse, sent to landfill.
