Rapidly Renewable Materials

By Preshani Maistry July 2007

When you hear the words rapidly renewable materials (RRMs), what kind of materials do you think of? Bamboo, cork, and straw all fall into this category. Additionally, natural and bio-fiber composites such as kenaf, hemp, flax, jute, henequen, and pineapple leaf fiber are all emerging as sustainable alternatives in the green building industry.1 Indeed, bio-fiber composites have potential to gain prominence as alternate materials especially as wood substitutes.2 Bamboo flooring and window screens are common green building products. Cork shavings are similarly used to manufacture flooring and fabric alternatives. Hemp and jute are prominent materials when contemplating eco-friendly insulation.3 These resources are considered sustainable because of their rapid regeneration--10 years of less--and growth cycles. Due to the sustainability of these materials, rapidly renewable resources have gained significance within the LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - rating system, has steadily become a standard trademark when discussing sustainable design and construction. Rapidly Renewable Resources are related to the LEED system, as they contribute the achievement of certain LEED credits when implemented within a larger sustainable design concept. These products are considered green as they are represent an alternative to mainstream buildings materials that are composed from either finite raw materials or long-cycle renewable materials. For example, for LEED CI (Commercial Interiors) buildings, if 5% of the total value of all materials and products used in a building project, are made from plants that are typically harvested within a 10-year or shorter cycle, the building qualifies for a LEED credit.4 Specifically, the building can achieve the MRc6, Materials and Resources Credit 6 (Rapidly Renewable Materials).5 The 5% requirement is calculated by dividing the total cost [$] of RRMs over the total cost [$] of all materials required to build the building. For LEED NC (New Construction) buildings, the LEED credit is available if the building is constructed with rapidly renewable building materials and products for 2.5% of the total value of all building materials and products used in the project.6 Looking at Bamboo: Since bamboo matures up to twenty times faster than some of the tree species used in hardwood flooring, bamboo is a more sustainable flooring alternative. To be specific, the oak trees required for hardwood require 120 years to mature. Conversely, bamboo which is equally as durable as hardwood, and which has a negligible impact on energy performance at its point of use, requires 3-7 years for maturity. 7 In comparison to fast-growing pine forest, which supplies the fastest growing wood flooring, twice as much bamboo can be harvested from a bamboo forest in one year than a pine forest.8 Moreover, bamboo does not have to be replanted after each harvest, whereas conventional hardwood requires replanting. Bamboo stalks can be taken from existing plants that have already begun to grow the next round. Hence, bamboo is both environmental and socially sustainable because labor normally allocated towards replanting can be allocated elsewhere. From chopsticks to scaffolding to even being housing frames, bamboo has definitely shown its versatility in the many ways it can be used. In Vietnam entire houses are being built from bamboo creating a log style look. Depending on the quality of a harvest, bamboo is comparable to red oak in terms of hardness and durability.9 The Janka Test is a standard testing method to establish the hardness rating of all wood flooring types. In this test a .444 inch steel ball is embedded into wood half of its diameter. Test results for natural bamboo flooring give a 1,380 and a 1,180 hardness rating for carbonized bamboo flooring (treated with steam which results in darker shades of bamboo). To put that in perspective, the same test gives red oak a 1,290 hardness rating and black maple a 1,010. In terms of cost, good quality bamboo which starts at $3.50 per square

foot uninstalled is significantly less expensive than conventional hardwood flooring. 10 Consequently, bamboo can hold its own when competing in strength, durability and cost to conventional flooring but with a smaller environmental impact. Bamboo flooring has also become a popular material on projects because of the LEED rating system. If used on a project it can award you the Materials and Resources credit for rapidly renewable resources. Recently, poor quality bamboo which contained high levels of urea formaldehyde (UH) flooded the market and was a cause for concern. Fortunately, high quality bamboo contains negligible levels of UH. Likewise the finish on bamboo can be a source of emissions; however, these emissions can be reduced if the finish is completed at the factory.11 If a bamboo product does not contain UH, it becomes eligible for the LEED Indoor Environmental Quality credit as well. Bamboo is best suited for areas with a consistent climate and does not adapt well to environments with extreme climate change such as the case with Albertas climate. Because of the severe changes in temperature and humidity that occur on a daily basis in Alberta bamboo flooring has been known to shrink, causing the glued layers to separate and ultimately separate from the sub-floor as well. The type of bamboo purchased should be chosen with ones climate in mind. That being said, there is a new bamboo product coming to the market called Fusion Bamboo that is supposed to better suited for the Alberta style climate. If you are looking into bamboo as a flooring choice be sure to ask about information on Fusion Bamboo. Another issue that confronts the sustainability of bamboo is the amount of transportation it takes to get bamboo to North America. The majority of bamboo used in hardwood flooring comes from Hunan Province in China which means it has to be shipped across the ocean to North America and then onto trucks or trains to get distributed across the country. Aside from the large distribution and heavy embodied energy issues associated with bamboo, there have been other industry downfalls because of the bamboo boom as well. In China the government runs the bamboo farms and in Vietnam they are privately run. This has made it difficult to put regulations in place on how toxic chemicals are to be handled and used. Due to the increasing popularity and demand for bamboo products forests have been cut down in order for bamboo plantations to be put in their place. Logged forests have given way to bamboo and drastically changed to bio diversity in those areas. Massive erosion has taken place due to weeding and tilling on the bamboo plantations, which has been done manually or with intensive chemical treatments, which add toxins to the environment. Also, during the manufacturing process up to 35% of the material goes to waste and is traditionally burned. Like all new products and technologies, bamboo is not without its downfalls. There are in fact manufacturers in Alberta that are ISO 9001:2000 and 14001-certified (International Standardization Organization). This means those companies have checkpoints in place to maintain a high level of quality control on their products. There are also companies that are developing ways to bring down the amount of waste to 16%. New manufacturing methods are also being used in which post industrial waste from other operations can be used to manufacture flooring causing the waste percentage to go down across the board. The bamboo industry continues to grow and adapt to help produce a more sustainable world. Hopefully steps will be taken to regulate manufacturing processes and completely eliminate chemical compounds such as UF from being used. Proper stewardship of bamboo plantations needs to be in place to keep a healthy and viable ecosystem. When looking into bamboo flooring be sure to ask as many questions as you can to ensure the demand for truly green products.

Cork as a RRM A common misconception is that cork is going extinct but in fact it is quite the opposite. Similar to bamboo, cork is considered a rapidly renewable material because bark from the cork tree can be harvested every 9 years, and like bamboo, it also has a negligible impact on energy performance at its point of use.12 Unlike synthetic vinyl flooring, cork is a resilient building alternative which has 50+ year lifespan compared to the 10-20 lifespan of synthetic flooring. Additionally, cork has a low flame spread, low off-gassing from natural oils, does not produce chemicals during the manufacturing process (dioxin specifically) and is completely biodegradable. Cork is also inherently anti-microbial and resistant to mildew; it adapts well to weight and recovers from large amounts of pressure hence it is well suited for kitchens and laundry rooms. Ranging from $3-7 per square foot unfinished, cork is economically sustainable over vinyl flooring because of its durability. 13 Cork harvesting has been going on for over one thousand years and hasnt changed all that much. Specially designed axes are used to cut, peel and strip the bark from the Cork Oak tree making the process done entirely by hand. Although machines have tried to be used to strip the bark this age-old technique still proves to be the best way. Removing bark by hand is better for the health and preservation of the tree while maintaining thousands of jobs for people. When cork is harvested not a single tree needs to be cut down. Only a percentage of the bark is removed from each tree, which allows them to maintain their protection while regenerating. Most of the time when looking into a product the question is, What are the ecological impacts of harvesting/mining the raw materials? In this case the question is: What are the ecological impacts if the raw material isnt harvested? It turns out that more than just people rely on the success of the cork industry. The entire habitat in the region where cork is harvested relies on the industry to keep going. If the demand for cork diminished people would have to move on to look for a new source of income, which would in turn end the maintenance of Portugals cork. This would eventually leave the Cork Oaks trees to die causing the region to dry up. These forests are also used as grazing grounds for livestock which would also send them looking for greener pastures. Portugal is susceptible to forest fires and with the build up of grass and dying trees the chances are made much greater. Ninety nine percent of the worlds cork comes from the Mediterranean and within that seventy percent goes to the production of wine corks. Due to the increased market share for alternative wine stoppers, these Cork Oak forests are now facing these risks. Unlike bamboo, there is significantly more regulation for cork harvesting. Indeed, nations that harvest cork monitor the frequency at which the resource can be harvested in order to minimize damage to the trees and eco-systems.14 The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) have teamed up to ensure the sustainable maintenance of Spain and Portugals Cork Oak forests to preserve these unique forests and continue the survival of three endangered species who rely on the shelter and safety of these forests. The Iberian Lynx, Iberian imperial eagle, and Barbary deer are animals on the endangered species list that depend on the habitat the Cork Oak helps provide. By purchasing wine with real cork stoppers and other cork products with FSC certification, it will help sustain the market share for real cork.15 From the three layers of the cork bark that is harvested, only the middle layer is used to make cork products. The first use after harvest is to make wine stoppers and then the rest that is left is ground up to make several different products including gaskets, bulletin boards, shoe soles, flooring tiles and large roles of cork sheeting which can be used a soundproofing barriers, insulation layers and even sub floor. The left over layers of waste is burned in large furnaces which heat the molds use to form ground cork compounds into other products. Another high point about cork is that it can be recycled back into the manufacturing process to minimize further waste. With products such as flooring tile that is available in several different

shades, cork can also be heated at varying degrees to achieve the various range of color. No dyes and stains are needed to alter the appearance of cork flooring products. Some products can be found with natural water based dyes and pigments. Similar to bamboo, the issue of product transportation arises with cork materials. Cork is manufactured in Europe, and the amount of energy required for shipping and fuel is significant. Fortunately, the low amount of energy expended during its manufacturing process balances the total amount of energy used in cork production, which still remains lower than that for any other resilient or laminate flooring. 16 Bio-Fiber Composites: While flooring is certainly a potential market for the emergence of renewable materials, other areas of the green building industry benefit from rapidly renewable resources. Below, the case study for hemp-flax insulation which is a ecological alternative to conventional insulation, is examined. Hemp is a superior material because the processing is clean and low on dust. Indeed, no waste products are produced from the production of hemp-flax insulation.17 Unlike convential insulation, hemp is well tolerated by those who come into contact with it since it does not cause itching.18 Hemp fibre soaks up moisture and distributes it which results in optimal moisture regulation. As hemp fibre does not contain protein the material does not require chemical treatment against moths and beetles.19 According to a UK government research project, hempflax insulation has a direct impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is because hemp and flax insulation is 5-10% more thermally efficient than conventional insulation. 20 Additionally, hemp flax insulation is noted for its technical properties which meet the European technical admission requirements (ETA-02/0008) and DIN Standards.21 Bio-fiber products such as hemp insulation do not share the same issue of energy expenditure during transportion in the same way as bamboo or cork. Since 1998, the commercial production of hemp has steadily increased in Canada. As of 2006, there were approximately 48,000 hectres of land devoted to hemp production, with Alberta sharing 10% of that total.22 Subsequently, the potential for growth of bio-fiber composites exists within Canada.

Written By: Preshani Maistry

Endnotes

A. K. Mohanty, M. Misra, and L. T. Drzal, Sustainable Bio-Composites from Renewable Resources: Opportunities and Challenges in the Green Materials World, Journal of Polymers and the Environment 10, no. 1-2 (2002). V.K. Mathur, Composite materials from local resources, Construction and Building no.7 (2006). Materials 20,

LEED and Green Building Products, Rapidly Renewable Materials, LEED and Green Building Products Online http://leedpro.wordpress.com/tag/mr-6-rapidly-renewable-materials/ (accessed, August 6, 2007) Armstrong, LEED Credits, Armstrong Online http://www.armstrong.com/sustainability/LEED-credits.html (accessed, August 6, 2007) http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productsByLeed.cfm?LEEDCreditID=28 Armstrong, LEED Credits, Armstrong Online http://www.armstrong.com/sustainability/LEED-credits.html (accessed, August 6, 2007)

Build It Green, Build It Green Online http://www.builditgreen.org/resource/index.cfm?fuseaction=factsheet_detail&rowid=4 Ibid 9 Ibid 10 Ibid 11 Ibid
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Build It Green, Build It Green Online http://www.builditgreen.org/resource/index.cfm?fuseaction=factsheet_detail&rowid=8 Ibid Ibid World Wildlife Fund, World Wildlife Fund Online www.wwf.ca (accessed, August 6, 2007) Build It Green, Build It Green Online http://www.builditgreen.org/resource/index.cfm?fuseaction=factsheet_detail&rowid=8 Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Improvement of Acoustic and Fire Performance of Flax and Hemp Thermal Insulation, DEFRA Science and Research, 2004. http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/More.asp?I=NF0605 (accessed, August 6, 2007) LEED and Green Building Products, Rapidly Renewable Materials, LEED and Green Building Products Online http://leedpro.wordpress.com/tag/mr-6-rapidly-renewable-materials/ (accessed, August 6, 2007) Ibid Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Improvement of Acoustic and Fire Performance of Flax and Hemp Thermal Insulation, DEFRA Science and Research, 2004. http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/More.asp?I=NF0605 (accessed, August 6, 2007) LEED and Green Building Products, Rapidly Renewable Materials, LEED and Green Building Products Online http://leedpro.wordpress.com/tag/mr-6-rapidly-renewable-materials/ (accessed, August 6, 2007) Agriculture and Food, Industrial Hemp Production Rebounding, Government of Alberta, 2006. http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/econ9631 (accessed, August 6, 2007)

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Agriculture and Food. Industrial Hemp Production Rebounding. Government of Alberta, 2006. http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/econ9631 (accessed, August 6, 2007) Armstrong. LEED Credits. Armstrong Online http://www.armstrong.com/sustainability/LEED-credits.html (accessed, August 6, 2007) Bowyer, Jim. Bamboo Flooring Environmental Silver Bullet or Faux Savior? Dovetail Partners Inc. 2005. http://dovetailinc.org/DovetailBamboo.html (accessed, August 6, 2007) Building Green, Building Green Online www.buildinggreen.com (accessed, August 6, 2007) Build It Green, Build It Green Online http://www.builditgreen.org/ (accessed, August 6, 2007) Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. Improvement of Acoustic and Fire Performance of Flax and Hemp Thermal Insulation. DEFRA Science and Research, 2004. http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/More.asp?I=NF0605 (accessed, August 6, 2007) Expanko, Expanko Online www.expanko.com (accessed, August 6, 2007) LEED and Green Building Products. Rapidly Renewable Materials. LEED and Green Building Products Online http://leedpro.wordpress.com/tag/mr-6-rapidly-renewable-materials/ (accessed, August 6, 2007) Long Leaf Lumber, Long Leaf Lumber Online http://longleaflumber.com (accessed, August 6, 2007) Mathur, V.K. Composite materials from local resources. Construction and Building Materials 20, no.7 (2006). Mohanty A. K., Misra M. and L. T. Drzal. Sustainable Bio-Composites from Renewable Resources: Opportunities and Challenges in the Green Materials World. Journal of Polymers and the Environment 10, no. 1-2 (2002). National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Online http://attra.ncat.org (accessed, August 6, 2007) Strandwoven, Strandwoven Online www.strandwoven.com (accessed, August 6, 2007) World Wildlife Fund, World Wildlife Fund Online www.wwf.ca (accessed, August 6, 2007)