VOCs and Biomimicry
As we strive to seal up our buildings to meet carbon reduction targets the health implications of materials specified are going to have far greater significance. It is amazing how materials such as PVC and MDF were only invented relatively recently in 1926 and 1960 and yet already there are moves to reduce or eliminate high-VOC materials (Volatile Organic Compounds) in buildings. Asbestos removal is a huge cost to the construction industry and yet this material was also at one point used in numerous building products.
Scientists are looking to nature for low-VOC solutions. One example is a soya protein which has been modified to mimic the sticky proteins produced by blue mussels as an alternative to the formaldehyde glue in plywood and MDF. As you can see in the link below, the product is commercially available, but like an alternative to PVC we recently discovered, has to be imported from the States! It would be good to see the UK, with its declining manufacturing industry, providing local material solutions to the issues that BREEAM, SKA, Code for sustainable Homes, Passivhouse, LEED, etc are all beginning to raise.
http://www.columbiaforestproducts.com/PureBond.aspx
Blue Mussel Glue!
