What are renewable materials and why are they a more sustainable choice?
Understanding renewable materials
Renewable materials are natural resources that can be replenished naturally over 60-100 years. Unlike finite, non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels or minerals, renewable materials — like wood and certain agricultural products — can be continuously regenerated, making them a sustainable option for various industries.
Why are renewable materials more sustainable?
- Regrowth and more regeneration: Renewable materials come from sources that grow back and can be harvested without depleting the resource.
- Lower carbon footprint: The lifecycle of renewable materials generally produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to non-renewable alternatives, helping to combat climate change.
- Reduced environmental impact: Harvesting renewable materials often involves less energy consumption, creates less waste, and is planned with consideration for biodiversity through sustainable forestry.
- Support for circular bioeconomy: These materials can often be reused, recycled, or biodegraded, fitting into sustainable waste management practices. We also continuously design and innovate for enhanced material circularity, recyclability and resource efficiency.
Real-world examples
- Wood and paper: The trees for these are sourced and harvested from sustainably managed forests. After final fellings, new trees are planted to ensure forest regeneration..
- Agricultural by-products: Materials like straw, corn stalks, and sugarcane bagasse are transformed into eco-friendly packaging and bio-based products.
Join the movement toward sustainability
Choosing products made from renewable materials impacts much more than just the environmental footprint. It drives strategic business operations and contributes to a more sustainable future through accelerating the transition to a circular bioeconomy.
Understanding circularity, such as material renewability and recyclability, helps to make informed decisions throughout the supply chain and create solutions that cater to both market and regulatory demands. Ultimately, this helps to build resilient societies by meeting today's needs without compromising those of tomorrow.
Choose materials that make a difference
Explore our detailed comparison to see how renewable materials like wood are leading the way in renewability, recyclability, and degradability.
| Wood | Plastic | Metal | Glass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renewable? | Yes | No | No | No |
| Recyclable? | 5-7 times | Depending on the type or category, plastics can be recycled 1-2 times, some infinitely and others not at all | Infinite number of times | Infinite number of times |
| Degradable? | 2-8 weeks for paper and board | 500 years or more for plastic containers | Between 50-500 years depending on the type of metal, tin or aluminium container | No |
| Worth talking about | Wood is renewable and with continued development can match the properties of plastic, metal, and glass | Extremely versatile, and inexpensive | A very strong material | Transparent |
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