Bio-based materials for energy efficiency in buildings: Insights & policy recommendations from the BIOBUILD Horizon Europe project

Buildings account for approximately 40% of Europe’s energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions, with heating and cooling representing nearly 80% of household energy use. The BIOBUILD project (2024–2027) addresses this by developing wood-based composites integrated with bio-based phase change materials (bioPCMs). Preliminary results indicate that these materials can reduce building energy demand by 6.5–12% while maintaining environmental performance comparable to conventional wood panels. This article explores the technical innovations, real-world performance modelling, and identifies the regulatory and market barriers to widespread adoption.