The Cradle to Cradle Product Innovations Institute is a non-profit organization that is responsible for the development of a third-party standard to “encourage innovation and the design of products that effectively and positively impact people and the environment.” That standard, the Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Standard, evaluates products across five different domains related to human and environmental health. What makes this standard unique among the myriad third-party standards that exist is “the expectation that an applicant will optimize each aspect of their product over time.”
In November of 2013, the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute announced finalists in their Innovation Challenge. (Note: One of the main sponsors of the challenge was Make It Right Foundation which was featured in an article about post-Katrina construction defects yesterday.) Out of 144 applicants, there were some clear stand-outs. Gary Wollenhaupt, writing at Product Lifecycle Stories, highlighted a novel masonry product that is cultured or grown instead of kiln-fired, and a concrete material that is self-repairing.
Bacterial Bricks
bioMason was developed by Ginger Krieg Dosier:
It takes only about five days for bacteria to create a natural cement similar to coral that binds aggregate into a brick. That’s without the heat and raw materials required for masonry bricks. About 40% of the cost of a masonry brick is in the fuel for kiln firing.
The bio brick process can use waste products such as urea and common bacteria grown with salt and yeast extracts. The creators are experimenting with using seawater to bring the product to remote areas short on fresh water.
Self-Healing Concrete
OK, I’ll admit – I am really excited about this. Concrete slab cracks are a major trigger for construction defect lawsuits due to something I call “the visible nuisance factor.” Stucco, drywall and concrete cracks are almost always minor and purely aesthetic (in other words, presenting no evidence of danger to structural integrity, life-safety, etc.). But those are the kinds of eyesores that keep property owners motivated to perpetuate conflicts.
Researchers at the Delft University of Technology have developed a concrete that may address the visible nuisance factor in a surprisingly novel manner:
Bacteria engineered to thrive in dry climates is helping to create a concrete that can repair itself. The bacteria are mixed into the concrete and release calcium carbonate, similar to limestone, as part of their waste process. The material fills in holes and cracks in the concrete, making it last longer and reducing maintenance costs.
Here is a video:
To learn more about the “Bio-concrete,” visit Delft University of Technology’s website.
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