Building Materials That Don’t Waste the Waste

There is a tower in Queens, N.Y., albeit a temporary one, that was built using mushrooms as a base material. It’s the first of its kind but probably won’t be the last, if a new report from the design, engineering, and business consultancy Arup is any indication.

In its report, the London-based group identifies a dozen organic waste products that can be used for building, as well as how they can be used. We’ve profiled half of them here:

Material: SugarcaneApplications: Internal use, floors, fiberboard, furnitureWhere to get it: msonsgroup.tradeindia.comMaterial: RiceApplications: Cement, bricks, ceramic glaze, insulationWhere to get it:ecorglobal.com, watershedmaterials.comMaterial: Hemp and flaxApplications: Insulation for walls, doors, and ceilingsWhere to get it:hempmaterials.com, hempflax.comMaterial: CelluloseApplications: Internal use, wall panels, ceilingsWhere to get it:ecorglobal.comMaterial: SunflowerApplications: Internal use, floors, ceilings, wallsWhere to get it:kokoboard.comMaterial: PineappleApplications: Internal use, cladding, furnitureWhere to get it: ananas-anam.com