BAM initiative: Sustainable building materials for the mass market

Together with the SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences and Meru University of Science and Technology in Kenya, BAM is researching the use of bio-based and recycled raw materials in the building materials sector. The aim is to bring climate-friendly building materials and building material components into widespread use in a technologically safe manner. The project is part of the Volkswagen Foundation's Circularity with recycled and biogenic resources program and is funded with EUR 1.2 million over four years.

The production of conventional building materials, especially cement and steel, is often associated with high greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-friendly materials made from renewable raw or recycled resources can help to reduce the carbon footprint as well as the environmental impact of the construction industry. However, there is still a lack of suitable infrastructure, regulations and business models to establish these on a large scale.

"The aim of our project is to bring climate-friendly building materials and components safely into use and at the same time give local players the opportunity to generate new, circular value chains," explains Wolfram Schmidt, project coordinator at BAM. "We are proud that with Circular B-I/O we can make an important contribution to the development of these construction technologies and at the same time promote the mutual transfer of knowledge with relevant stakeholders in the building materials market."

Sustainable building material production and supply chains for Kenya

An important part of the project is the establishment of an integrated building materials production chain in Kenya - from raw material extraction to distribution. Here, climate-friendly organic concrete admixtures, mineral binder components and innovative production technologies will be tested. The focus is on materials from unused, often environmentally harmful, agricultural and aquacultural residues such as cassava shells or water hyacinths, from which both concrete plasticizers and cementitious binder components can be obtained. The close link between research and practice means that the technologies created in the laboratory can be tested and optimized immediately.

Another focus of the project is the development of reliable supply chains for the mass production of bio-based building materials. Here, artificial intelligence will be used to develop decision-making aids for the optimal design of supply chains and the fullest possible utilization of all available bioresources to enable sustainable, safe and economical use of raw materials for the local market. With these decision-making aids, planners and investors can evaluate the technologies holistically, taking into account local value chains and cultural and social practices.

Project team aims to provide impetus for Europe

By taking a holistic view of everything from agricultural waste to building concrete and its by-products, the project provides opportunities for local stakeholders to generate new circular value chains. Due to the enormous agricultural growth potential in Africa, building with concrete based on renewable raw materials can be accelerated. At the same time, it provides insights that are also relevant for Europe and can be used to replace the increasingly scarce raw materials for concrete construction with more sustainable components.

This article was first published on 25 January by BAM.