• What is the problem/issue being addressed?
Today’s construction materials severely impact the environment. Construction creates 2.5B tons of CO2 annually, more than all cars globally. Over 5% of all CO2 emissions are from iron and steel production, and 5.5% from concrete. The global urbanisation boom will exacerbate the supply and price of all building materials. The auto industry uses unsustainable plastics for interior components, and metals for car bodies, increasing weight and energy usage.
• Why is it important for society?
The issue is global: All sectors must cut emissions by 50% by 2050 to meet EU targets. Clean energy can only help so much - new materials are needed.`
• What are the overall objectives?
Wood is sustainable and traps carbon, but native wood has poor mechanical properties and low durability. This limits its application in construction. (A) Durability is low, as wood is prone to rotting and burning. (B) Mechanical performance is poor compared to other materials, with limited mechanical strength. Exotic woods are expensive and harvested destructively. The goal of Woodoo’s breakthrough technology is to create augmented wood, a new material innovation that is: (1) Abundant: Wood grows everywhere and regenerates. Cheap local timber can be transformed into high-performing Woodoo wood. (2) Sustainable: Woodoo wood is 100% recyclable, 7 times as energy efficient as glass and 130 times as steel. It stores 1 tonne of CO2 per m3, instead of emitting it. (3) Strong and moldable: Woodoo wood panels can be bent into any shape without breakage, and used like touchscreens when connected to electronics with low environmental footprint.
