Logo
menu
search
Video

Green building: can mushrooms help?

From The Economist: The construction industry is responsible for 11% of the world’s man-made CO2 emissions—due to its reliance on concrete and steel. What alternative materials could be used in the future?

Supported by
    PUBLISHED 7 MARCH, 2022

      If the cement industry were a country it would be the third-largest emitter in the world, after China and America. The building materials we depend on for development—cement, steel, glass, plastics and others—require vast amounts of energy and finite natural resources like water, oil and sand. But what if we could "grow" cities and products in a way that doesn't exploit the natural world? How can we standardise abundant, energy efficient, rapidly renewable materials?


      00:00 - What are some sustainable alternatives?

      00:31 - Why is construction bad for the environment?

      01:08 - The problem with concrete

      02:00 - Promising alternatives to concrete

      03:07 - Can mushrooms help construct buildings?

      04:09 - The impact of sustainable design

      06:26 - Meeting the demand of emerging economies

      Resilience and Adaptation