European material manufacturers have joined forces to develop a lightweight construction technology that could replace concrete, significantly reducing the harmful environmental impact of producing traditional concrete while also providing a little more living space for residents of buildings constructed with this new material.

Heidelberg Materials (formerly known as HeidelbergCement AG), one of the world’s largest building materials groups, and Metsä Wood, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of wood-based materials, have collaborated to develop this technology.

According to Archinect News, the companies have developed a wall that consists of an outer layer of climate-enhanced concrete that absorbs carbon emissions, sandwiched between a layer of insulation and laminated veneer lumber, a material that is lightweight but still strong enough to be used as a replacement for steel, according to another company that makes the material.

The combination of climate-improved concrete and laminated veneer lumber instead of traditional concrete is key to reducing climate-damaging pollution from this technology. Concrete production in general depends on dirty energy, which accounts for about 8% of the global gases that humans contribute to warming the planet, one of the main reasons for extreme weather events. Concrete made from food waste and concrete made from recycled materials are among the other solutions currently being developed to reduce pollution from the construction sector.

According to Archinect News, the team behind the hybrid technology says the wall construction has 30 to 50 percent less impact on the climate than a traditional concrete wall and is 60 percent lighter.

In addition, the team has built a house with the new walls and humidity sensors and found that the system can reduce climate impacts by 15 to 25 percent. Currently, the new technology is not suitable for buildings with more than five stories.

Although it is a relatively new technology, if it proves reliable, it could go a long way towards helping the European Union achieve its goal of significantly reducing pollution by 2050.

“One of the advantages of this hybrid element is that builders do not have to change their construction method with concrete elements, but can still reduce their carbon dioxide emissions,” said Håkan Arnebrant, Business Development Manager at Metsä Wood. “At the same time, the walls can be made 50 to 75 millimeters (about 2 to 3 inches) thinner than walls made of concrete elements, which can give a building a few extra square meters.”

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