Author: Angel

On 30 September and 1 October 2026, the HIBISCUS consortium gathered in Barcelona, Spain, for its second Steering Committee meeting. The two-day event brought partners together to review the project’s first year of progress, exchange on technical developments and sustainability challenges, and discover innovative technologies through visits to LEITAT and INDRESMAT. One year after the… Continue reading HIBISCUS partners gather in Barcelona to review first-year progress and explore innovative bio-based building materials

Insulation makes buildings more comfortable and energy-efficient, but its environmental performance depends on more than what happens after installation. Buildings and construction account for around 32% of global energy demand and 34% of global CO₂ emissions[1]. Insulation can reduce the energy needed for heating and cooling, but producing an insulation material also requires raw materials,… Continue reading Rethinking insulation materials: from environmental impacts to bio-based solutions

From everyday cooking to new industrial applications, used cooking oil can become a resource for fuels, chemicals and materials. After frying a meal, the oil left behind may seem to have reached the end of its useful life. Yet households, restaurants and food manufacturers generate a waste stream that still contains valuable molecules. Collecting this… Continue reading From kitchens to construction: The second life of used cooking oil

New research suggests that the biggest barriers are no longer technological.   For years, discussions around bio-based construction materials focused on one question:  Can they really compete with conventional materials?   Today, the answer is increasingly yes.   Engineered timber, wood fibre insulation, cellulose insulation, bio-based polyurethanes and many other renewable materials have already demonstrated their technical performance in real construction applications. Yet despite growing scientific evidence… Continue reading Why aren’t bio-based construction materials becoming mainstream ?

The construction sector in Europe: a major industry facing major challenges. The construction sector is one of the pillars of the European economy, but also one of its biggest environmental challenges. A key sector with heavy footprint Construction represents 11.5% of the EU’s Gross Value Added[1], shaping the spaces where we live, work and connect.… Continue reading Sustainable construction in Europe: Can bio-based materials change the game?

The HIBISCUS project has officially launched, marking a major step toward transforming the construction industry through innovative, bio-based materials. Coordinated by SOPREMA and supported by eleven European partners and one affiliated entity , the project aims to reduce dependence on fossil resources and accelerate the shift toward circular, sustainable building solutions. The construction sector is… Continue reading HIBISCUS Project Launched: Europe invests in bio-based construction materials for a low-carbon future

HIBISCUS is redefining the future of building envelopes by replacing fossil-based components with next-generation bio-based alternatives. The project’s mission is clear: deploy safer, circular materials at scale while ensuring economic viability and compliance with stringent European standards. A complete european value chain HIBISCUS aims to build a fully integrated European value chain, from feedstock conversion… Continue reading From Renewable Feedstocks to High-Performance Building Materials: Inside the HIBISCUS Innovation Roadmap