The concern for building well-being for all and contributing to caring for the environment is an increasingly widespread trend. It is clear that the collective challenge is to contain climate change and one way of working together towards this goal is through the use of sustainable materials. We will tell you a little more about the most prominent ones at present. 

Historically, building and transforming territories has brought with it high environmental costs. Improving the materials used for infrastructure development has sometimes involved the use of new chemical substances whose effects on the health of inhabitants and the planet are not the most favourable. This is without taking into account the large amount of waste that reaches the ecosystem and modifies its conditions. 

Awareness of the above has led to the necessary reflection on improving the space in which we live and changing the methods that have been used until now. An important part of this transformation is due to the use of materials that are more friendly to the environment and to people. 

We are then talking about better spaces, better inhabited and in line with the challenges of the ecosystem. “Having a greener and less toxic home depends on the way you consume and live, towards a more circular model. It is your habits that show that you are truly sustainable,” says Victoria de Pereda, head of the sustainability department at the European Design Institute (IED).

So, what are the materials that are currently being favoured and that point to better-built and more sustainable homes? We will tell you about them: 

1. Linoleum: This material is made from natural ingredients, mainly dried and ground linseed, a fabric derived from jute, and pigments to provide color. It is also a biodegradable material and does not produce toxic substances during processing or at the end.
   
   This material has already been used in the studio-homes built by architects Edgley Design and Spaced Out in the Islington neighbourhood of London. There, this material is featured on the living room floor due to its renowned durability.
2. Bamboo: It is known for being natural, renewable, ecological and sustainable. Due to its strength, it is popular for use in tropical areas, and is increasingly being used as an alternative to wood as a finish. It is important to note that it grows very quickly, so its harvesting does not cause deforestation and it absorbs 30% more CO2 than other woods.
   
3. Cork: Its production uses natural materials, artisanal processes and a low environmental impact. Japanese brand Nendo has designed a sustainable version of the SU stool for Emeco, with an interchangeable cork seat.
   
   One thing to keep in mind is that the cork oak, from which cork is extracted, releases its bark every 10 years, without the tree being damaged during extraction.
   
4. Natural paints: They have no emissions of their own and are 100% transparent in terms of their composition. They are also produced using renewable and biodegradable compounds.
   
5. Cooked clay: It is fired at temperatures below 950º, thus preserving the qualities of the earth such as good thermal inertia. The great innovation in these cases is that this material can be recycled and if it has been treated with natural products, it can be incorporated back into manufacturing processes as raw material.