Biogenic materials for the decarbonization of the built environment

This contribution highlights the need to reflect on the environmental, cultural, and social value of biogenic construction materials and their role in the roadmap towards climate neutrality. Based on a mapping of European case studies, the essay investigates the diffusion of biogenic materials in architecture, questioning whether their use is limited to experimental cases or if it can be at the base of a decarbonisation strategy. The analysis conducted reveals the urgency of adopting technologies and practices that promote the diffusion and scalability of biogenic materials to respond, on the one hand, to energy and environmental regulations and, on the other hand, to contribute effectively and sustainably to the demand for net-positive materials, as alternatives to conventional ones.