Within 5 years, one in five new buildings should be constructed using bio-circular materials. This ambition has been set out in a new charter launched by construction federation Embuild Vlaanderen and research centre Buildwise. Around 150 businesses and organisations – ranging from contractors and architects to clients, farmers, materials producers, environmental groups, and knowledge institutions – support the initiative. 

Examples of familiar biobased materials include timber, cross-laminated timber (CLT), hemp panels, flax, straw, paper flakes, wood wool, cellulose, and cork. These are all natural materials that don’t deplete Earth’s resources and can be grown or cultivated again and again. Rather than producing buildings that emit CO₂, this approach allows us to create structures that act as carbon storage. 

Hempcrete, for instance – a mix of lime and hemp – is proving particularly promising for construction and insulation. It insulates well, regulates humidity, and creates a comfortable indoor climate. A great example is the Mechelen heritage depot, where storage boxes for artworks and fragile documents are made from hempcrete panels. 

Embuild Vlaanderen launched its Bio-Circular Building Charter on 21 March 2025 in Genk, together with the first 100 signatories. The location was LABIOMISTA, a unique venue created by artist Koen Vanmechelen, where sustainability, biodiversity, and innovation converge.