Biobased materials like hemp, straw, and bamboo offer a transformative opportunity to reduce embodied carbon, enhance resilience, and create regenerative buildings. Yet, despite their benefits, these materials remain underutilized due to regulatory hurdles, supply chain gaps, and industry skepticism. How can we overcome these challenges and scale the adoption of biobased materials in mainstream construction? This session will bring together leading experts from the International Living Future Institute, California Straw Building Association, Americhanvre Cast Hemp, and Verdant Building Products to explore both the barriers and the breakthroughs needed to make bio-based materials a viable alternative to conventional construction. Speakers will share case studies, discuss structural and fire safety considerations, and highlight policy and market strategies that can accelerate adoption. Through a collaborative and solutions-oriented discussion, attendees will gain insight into emerging research and performance data on bio-based materials, strategies for addressing code and permitting challenges, the role of interdisciplinary partnerships in advancing material innovation and opportunities for scaling production and supply chains. Join us to explore how resilience, collaboration, and innovation can drive the widespread use of bio-based materials—creating buildings that not only store carbon but also support healthier communities and ecosystems.
