Switching out classic building materials for materials that are more sustainable is becoming increasingly common worldwide. In 2022 we covered the phenomenon of “Ecobricking”. This involves used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle’s packed solid with clean and dry used plastic that become strong enough to be used as building materials. We have also recently covered the switch that Absolute Vodka are making from glass bottles to paper bottles. In this article we will explore two pioneering companies exploring alternative materials for building.
Think Fibreglass, But With Wool
Husband and wife team, Justin and Hannah Floyd, are the masterminds behind Solidwood. A UK-based company which has produced a composite material made from wool. Using the coarse wool of the Lake District’s Herdwick sheep, whose popularity has somewhat declined. The wool and bio-resin are mixed using a top-secret method to produce Solidwool.
The bio-resin that is used is completely non-toxic, unlike the resins that are often used in the production of composites. It is derived from waste streams from other operations, like the manufacturing of wood pulp and biofuel, and it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint by at least 50%. “That means we can make durable composites with a much lower environmental impact—our aim is to eventually produce a composite that is 100% natural with 100% of the required quality,” says Justin, explaining how this “green chemistry” avoids many other dangerous pollutants.
The Hembury Chair, the first product to be released, perfectly embodies the beauty and organic variance of Solidwool. The design, which is sturdy enough for daily use but nevertheless sculptural, has locally produced steel welded frames and hand-turned ash legs made by expert teams in the South-west. Outside of furniture, Solidwool has also been used for glasses frames, combs, calendars and even kitchen knives.
Figure 1: Herdwick sheep at Rough Crag, Lake District. [4]
FabBRICK
Clarisse Merlet, the creator of FabBRICK, saw how energy and pollution intensive the construction industry was while she was an architecture student, and made the decision to find a different way to build. Unfortunately, the fashion business, which is often associated with creativity and self-expression, also has a long history of waste. Each year, mountains of unwanted clothing accumulate in landfills, posing a serious environmental threat. However, FabBRICK, is creating a new story that turns this waste into a revolutionary force for environmentally friendly building amid this growing worry.
Isabelle Vallée, a co-founder of FabBRICK, says, “We started FabBRICK because we were frustrated by the sheer amount of textile waste generated by the fashion industry. We knew there had to be a better way, a way to give these discarded clothes a second life.” This annoyance served as the catalyst for creativity for FabBRICK, who created a novel method for turning textile waste into an incredibly adaptable building material.
It would be easy to write off FabBRICKS as charming but unusable. But hidden behind their modest exteriors is a surprising strength. Because of their remarkable structural strength, FabBRICKS can be used for more than just decorative accents. More and more designers and architects are integrating FabBRICKS into walls to create not only aesthetically pleasing but also structurally sound environments. Excellent thermal and acoustic insulation is provided by the compacted textile structure, which keeps your living area peaceful and cosy. In order to ensure your home’s safety and compliance with building rules, fire resistance is another crucial component.
The Future
Therefore, the next time you are thinking about remodelling, do not limit yourself to conventional materials. One recycled textile brick at a time, you can construct a more robust and sustainable future with FabBRICK. And with SolidWool, you can furnish your home with unique pieces and create a talking point around the dinner table.
About Pager Power
Pager Power undertakes technical assessments for developers of renewable energy projects and tall buildings worldwide. For more information about what we do, please get in touch.
References
[1] A tactile material. Solidwool. Available at: https://www.solidwool.com/material
[2] Chislett, H. (2018) Solidwool designs, NUVO. Available at: https://nuvomagazine.com/magazine/winter-2015/solidwool-designs
[3] Lochhead, G. (2022) A new take on wool, Furniture Production Magazine. Available at: https://www.furnitureproduction.net/products/articles/2022/08/1205676259-new-take-wool
[4] Baxter, W. (2016) Herdwick sheep at Rough Crag, Lake District. From WikiCommons. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herdwick_sheep_at_Rough_Crag_-_geograph.org.uk_-_5216111.jpg
[5] About Us, FabBRICK. Available at: https://www.fab-brick.com/about-us
[6] Shokouhian, M. (2024a) Fabbrick: Building with recycled textile, Rooz Rang: Online graphic design magazine. Available at: https://www.roozrang.com/fabbrick-weaving-a-new-future-for-construction-with-recycled-textiles/
[7] Soulié, P.-L. (2023) From soft fabrics to solid walls: Fabbrick reinvents construction materials with recycled textile waste, DesignWanted. Available at: https://designwanted.com/fabbrick-construction-materials-recycled-textile/
