Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INGUMA (ReducINg the footprint of consumer products through public dialoGUe and innovative bio-based MAterials)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30
Replacing mineral- and fossil-based construction materials with bio-based alternatives offers significant potential to lower atmospheric carbon levels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. This transition plays a crucial role in rebalancing the global carbon cycle. Therefore, scaling up the strategic use of bio-based materials and products in construction can transform individual buildings—and the built environment as a whole—into effective carbon sinks. Studies suggest that using timber buildings for urban residential construction has the potential to store significant amounts of carbon.
INGUMA's primary objective is to promote the use of bio-based materials in building and renovation solutions, highlighting their potential to enhance its quality, liveability, and performance. Hence, INGUMA focuses on developing sustainably produced and long-lived bio-based products. It identifies biomass materials from underutilized wood sector side streams, agricultural and forestry systems, and aims to develop these materials at an industrial level. As a first step, it aims to develop bio-based adhesives, agricultural and side stream fibers, resin-free insulation boards, mycelial-based insulation boards and substrates for green roofs. In addition, the project develops structural insulation panels with these materials. The second step is the up-scalling of all the mentioned products and the third is the demonstration at real scale of solutions that integrate all of them in Derio (Spain) and Savonnlina (Finland).
INGUMA adopts a holistic approach to the built environment, integrating disciplines, sectors, and societal strata. The project values the core principles of NEB – beautiful, sustainable, and together – guiding its efforts to create aesthetic and sustainable bio-based materials and solutions through co-creation and collaboration with cross-disciplinary actors.
INGUMA's primary objective is to promote the use of bio-based materials in building and renovation solutions, highlighting their potential to enhance its quality, liveability, and performance. Hence, INGUMA focuses on developing sustainably produced and long-lived bio-based products. It identifies biomass materials from underutilized wood sector side streams, agricultural and forestry systems, and aims to develop these materials at an industrial level. As a first step, it aims to develop bio-based adhesives, agricultural and side stream fibers, resin-free insulation boards, mycelial-based insulation boards and substrates for green roofs. In addition, the project develops structural insulation panels with these materials. The second step is the up-scalling of all the mentioned products and the third is the demonstration at real scale of solutions that integrate all of them in Derio (Spain) and Savonnlina (Finland).
INGUMA adopts a holistic approach to the built environment, integrating disciplines, sectors, and societal strata. The project values the core principles of NEB – beautiful, sustainable, and together – guiding its efforts to create aesthetic and sustainable bio-based materials and solutions through co-creation and collaboration with cross-disciplinary actors.
The main achievements of INGUMA include:
- Bio-based adhesive: development of a formaldehyde eco-friendly adhesive formulation, exhibiting improved sustainability and bonding strength (TRL 5)
- Lignocellulosic fibers: obtention of innovative fibers from agricultural and recycled sources using enzyme aided reactive extrusion (TRL 5)
- Resin-free wood-fibers insulation: successful development of the material with improved sustainability. (TRL 5)
- Mycelial-based insulation panels by utilizing lignocellulosic fibers sourced from forestry and agricultural side streams. (TRL 5)
- Green roof substrate using composted lignocellulosic side streams, including red clover, cow manure, and wood-processing byproducts (veneers and plywood). (TRL 4)
- Structural insulation panels: development of panels that include the bio-based adhesive and the insulation materials. (TRL 5)
- Demonstrators: first draft design of a demo house in Spain and a test house in Finland, showcasing the integration of the innovative solutions. (TRL 4)
In addition, significant achievements in the design process of the products were obtained:
1. Co-creation labs: implementation of a series of 21 challenge-driven workshops, bringing together stakeholders and innovation developers to co-create innovative solutions.
2. Stakeholder engagement: organization of an intensive examination sessions, where local and regional participants from research, science, and industry provided valuable feedback.
3. Co-creation phases: the project defined three co-creation phases to provide timely support to stakeholders and innovation developers.
- Bio-based adhesive: development of a formaldehyde eco-friendly adhesive formulation, exhibiting improved sustainability and bonding strength (TRL 5)
- Lignocellulosic fibers: obtention of innovative fibers from agricultural and recycled sources using enzyme aided reactive extrusion (TRL 5)
- Resin-free wood-fibers insulation: successful development of the material with improved sustainability. (TRL 5)
- Mycelial-based insulation panels by utilizing lignocellulosic fibers sourced from forestry and agricultural side streams. (TRL 5)
- Green roof substrate using composted lignocellulosic side streams, including red clover, cow manure, and wood-processing byproducts (veneers and plywood). (TRL 4)
- Structural insulation panels: development of panels that include the bio-based adhesive and the insulation materials. (TRL 5)
- Demonstrators: first draft design of a demo house in Spain and a test house in Finland, showcasing the integration of the innovative solutions. (TRL 4)
In addition, significant achievements in the design process of the products were obtained:
1. Co-creation labs: implementation of a series of 21 challenge-driven workshops, bringing together stakeholders and innovation developers to co-create innovative solutions.
2. Stakeholder engagement: organization of an intensive examination sessions, where local and regional participants from research, science, and industry provided valuable feedback.
3. Co-creation phases: the project defined three co-creation phases to provide timely support to stakeholders and innovation developers.
The achievements of INGUMA will have a positive impact on the environment, the construction industry, and society:
1. Environmental impact reduction. The innovative solutions, such as the bio-based insulations, have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of buildings.
2. Improved building performance. The development of eco-friendly structural insulation panels can improve the thermal and mechanical performance of buildings, leading to energy savings and reduced maintenance costs.
3. Increased use of sustainable materials. The use of eco-friendly materials in construction will be improved reducing the reliance of the construction sector on non-renewable resources.
4. Job creation and economic growth. The successful commercialization of the developed innovative solutions can create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in the construction and related industries.
Several key needs have been identified for the further uptake and success of the developed materials, products and solutions.
There is a need of up scaling the several manufactured and materials (bio adhesive, insulation boards, structural insulation panels and green roof substrate). Partners with industrial capacities will manufacture enough quantities of them for the final demos going to a TRL 6/7 in most of them. In addition, the final demos will be fully designed, installed and monitored for six months.
1. Environmental impact reduction. The innovative solutions, such as the bio-based insulations, have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of buildings.
2. Improved building performance. The development of eco-friendly structural insulation panels can improve the thermal and mechanical performance of buildings, leading to energy savings and reduced maintenance costs.
3. Increased use of sustainable materials. The use of eco-friendly materials in construction will be improved reducing the reliance of the construction sector on non-renewable resources.
4. Job creation and economic growth. The successful commercialization of the developed innovative solutions can create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in the construction and related industries.
Several key needs have been identified for the further uptake and success of the developed materials, products and solutions.
There is a need of up scaling the several manufactured and materials (bio adhesive, insulation boards, structural insulation panels and green roof substrate). Partners with industrial capacities will manufacture enough quantities of them for the final demos going to a TRL 6/7 in most of them. In addition, the final demos will be fully designed, installed and monitored for six months.