Put a Little Hemp in Your Concrete

In Europe, the oft-stigmatized hemp plant is becoming a widely accepted, environmentally friendly alternative source to concrete or brick in the building industry, but sadly has yet to gain any real traction in the US market. Hemp based concrete, a mixture of aggregate hemp stalks, sand, lime and concrete, is becoming more widespread in Europe due to it being a rapidly renewable resource, its impressive thermal and sound dampening qualities and its small carbon footprint.

Hemp-based concrete cannot be used for load bearing walls but is still a very versatile material; it can be cast into blocks or in a solid mass around timber frames, and can even be sprayed onto many surfaces. It is extremely energy efficient and can be used in multiple applications including roof and under floor insulation, in casting solid walls and as wall filler around a timber-framed building.



The stalks of the hemp plant, once considered waste, are processed and used as a renewable, fast growing aggregate in the concrete. Hemp is an extremely hardy plant, requires little maintenance, pesticides or water but unfortunately has been mired in controversy do to its close ties with a certain close relative. Today, numerous companies like Tradical and Hemcrete are prospering in Europe and their hemp-based products have successfully been implemented in a wide range of projects. Like many large industries, America’s building industry is slow to accept and adopt new methods and technologies, but the promise of hemp-based concrete certain; its future in the US however is not.

To find out more visit www.americanlimetec.com

Syndecrete, a Sustainable Concrete for Interior Design

Syndecrete a company that we discovered last september at the west coast green conference in San Francisco produce a special concrete and a set of products, tiles, sinks slabs and tabletops and custom designs based on their concrete.

The syndecrete is a solid surfacing material replace standard concrete for interior design, on top of it it’s has better mecanical property and is certified by The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

I encourage you to visit their website, which is sleek and explain nicely the advantage of the product and the sustanaible issue associated with concrete in interior design.

 Syndecrete website

TX Active: Concrete Material With a Cause

In 2006 the Italian company Italicemente introduced a concrete that actually filters the air for CO2. The process is called photocatalysis: a titanium dioxide coating applied to the cement surface is triggered by UV rays to initiate a chemical reaction which absorbs air pollutants. An additional benefit, and the original reason it was developed, TX Active also prevents the build-up of organic and inorganic pollutants on surfaces, helping to improve a building’s appearance over time.

In a large city such as Milan, researchers have calculated – on the basis of test results – that covering 15% of visible urban surfaces with products containing TX Active® would enable a reduction in pollution of approximately 50%.

What we haven’t seen is any TX active in the United States. If anyone knows of its application outside of Europe, please add to the comments.