BIOLOOP

Switzerland’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 will heavily impact the construction sector. Reducing emissions and enhancing carbon storage through natural resources—especially long-term biogenic carbon storage—is essential. Bio-based materials like wood and straw can store carbon over a building's lifespan, but current research lacks clear targets for how much biogenic carbon the sector should store or how much local supply chains can provide.

The BioLoop project evaluates high-potential bio-based materials and applies them to three construction scenarios (standard, realistic, and advanced) across four building types. Life cycle assessments and dynamic carbon storage models are used to measure impact. Building-scale results show that advanced use of bio-based materials could cut new building emissions by 40% and renovations by 20%, while increasing carbon storage by 25 times compared to current practices. Key materials include wood for structures and straw for insulation.

By 2050, at national scale, widespread use of these materials could reduce yearly construction-related emissions by 20% annually and store the equivalent of the sector’s annual emissions. Long-term, the carbon storage potential will stabilize as demolition balances new construction.

However, major barriers exist: lack of standards, variable material properties, extended permitting times, limited data, and a shortage of skilled labour. For instance, some projects rely on foreign experts due to insufficient local know-how.

In conclusion, BioLoop shows that bio-based materials can significantly support Switzerland’s climate goals by reducing emissions and storing carbon. But broader adoption requires overcoming technical, logistical, and financial barriers.