Insights What do living building materials mean for the environment

The benefits of living building materials

So, why are the use of living building materials so important to the future of the construction industry?

Firstly, many living building materials have the ability to help drive down carbon emissions. For example, it is widely known that the use of green roofs can help capture carbon. This is especially beneficial in urban areas with high carbon output. Carbon capture and reduction is one of the biggest driving forces behind the use of living building materials, helping the industry move towards net zero emissions.

Living building materials can also help overcome other environmental factors. The use of living materials can often support the control of rainwater flow, this can limit the strain put on city drainage systems and mitigate flooding risks. Similarly, living building materials can support thermal control. This can be achieved through the use of thermal materials to keep heat in buildings, or through the use of materials that can help dissipate heat captured in urban environments.

The use of self-healing or super-resistant living building materials can drastically increase the lifespan of buildings and limit maintenance and repair. Building longevity means that fewer building materials are required over a longer period of time, eliminating the need for the potentially harmful production and mining of those materials.

What are the main challenges of living building materials?

There are several big challenges that need to be overcome to drive the viability and widespread use of living building materials across the globe.

Cost is probably the biggest factor impacting the widespread use of living building materials. With urban population growth ever increasing, there is more pressure on local governments to build more housing and commercial property with smaller and smaller budgets. Although living building material offers considerable benefits, they are also typically more expensive than other types of materials - making them a ‘hard sell’ in many cases.

We have already mentioned some of the innovative living building materials and their benefits. However, the concept of living building materials is still in its early stages with many more innovations and ideas needed to overcome new environmental challenges. This also means that many living building materials are showing early signs of promise with the potential to be effective in the long term and on a larger scale.

AtkinsRéalis' commitment to better living environments

Here at AtkinsRéalis , we are committed to helping create more sustainable living environments. When you work with us, you can contribute in a positive way to helping achieve the vision of a

brighter, better future. Our teams are already working on ambitious projects that include the use of the latest, innovative building materials.

If you think a career that involves progressing the use of living building materials might be for you, you can check out our cities and development jobs, project management roles, and environment and geoscience opportunities.