In modern society, the preservation of the global environment and the realization of a sustainable society have become important challenges.
While we have heard the word "sustainable" in various fields for a long time, what is attracting attention in the field of building construction, including houses and stores, is "sustainable construction materials." Sustainable construction materials refer to building materials that are sustainable from social, economic, and global environmental perspectives.
In this article, we will explain in detail the overview of sustainable construction materials, their types, specific product examples, and the benefits of introducing them.
What exactly is "sustainable," a term we hear so often in recent years?
"Sustainable" is a word meaning "capable of being maintained," combining the English words "sustain" and "able." In other words, it refers to a state in which future generations can live abundantly without imposing a burden on the environment.
The United Nations' "SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)," consisting of 17 goals to be achieved by 2030, are garnering significant attention from the international community as an initiative toward solving global-scale challenges such as poverty and climate change.
Because of this background, "sustainable construction materials" that can reduce environmental impact and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society are attracting attention in the construction field.
Sustainable construction materials have three main features.
◾︎Energy saving in the manufacturing process
Sustainable construction materials seek to minimize energy consumption during the manufacturing process. Various ingenuity is used, such as the use of renewable energy and efficiency improvements in the manufacturing process.
◾︎Ease of maintenance and suppression of harmful substances
Materials that are easy to maintain are chosen so that they can be used with peace of mind for a long time. Another feature is the adoption of safe materials that avoid the use of chemical substances harmful to the human body.
◾︎Reuse of used materials
Sustainable construction materials seek to make effective use of resources by reusing used wood, plastic, etc.
◾︎Long-life design
By designing them to be usable for a long time, we reduce the replacement frequency of construction materials and suppress the generation of waste.
◾︎Adoption of natural materials
By not using chemicals and actively adopting natural materials, these are construction materials that are considerate of the health of the residents. Natural materials such as wood, soil, and stone can also be expected to have humidity-regulating and air-purifying effects.
Sustainable building materials can be broadly classified into three types: raw materials, recycled, and natural materials, each with its own characteristics. Here, we introduce some types and examples of typical sustainable building materials.
■ Biomass Toughcal (Vinyl decorative sheet CS)
This is an environmentally friendly outdoor decorative sheet that contains 10% plant-derived biomass.
By making 10% of the film and adhesive from biomass materials, we reduce the amount of fossil fuel used and suppress the emission of greenhouse gases. It is a sustainable product that contributes to global warming countermeasures.
Source: https://nakagawa.co.jp/news/2024/06/25/6254/
■ ECO SHEET (Interior decorative sheet)
This is an interior decorative sheet made using olefin (non-vinyl chloride) materials that are less likely to generate harmful substances such as dioxins when burned.
It is a product that realizes a healthy living space with minimal impact on the human body and consideration for the environment.
■ LIMEX Decorative Sheet
LIMEX, developed by TBM Co., Ltd., is a new material that replaces plastic and paper and contains more than 50% inorganic substances such as calcium carbonate. By using it as banners and decorative materials in place of conventional vinyl chloride materials, we reduce the use of vinyl chloride and contribute to the reduction of plastic waste. Since LIMEX is lighter than vinyl chloride materials, it reduces the burden of installation work and also makes cost reduction possible.
■ PANECO board (Interior board)
A sustainable fiber board born from clothing.
We use unwanted clothing as a raw material, and it can be used for a wide range of applications such as heat insulation materials and interior materials. Through the upcycling of clothing, it contributes to the reduction of "clothing loss," which has become a problem in the fashion industry, and it is a circular construction material that is reborn as PANECO® again after use.
Source: https://paneco.tokyo/
■ Underfloor free-access floor materials
This is an eco-friendly raised access floor that uses 100% plastic and waste fishing nets discarded at factories.
By effectively utilizing these wastes, it suppresses the consumption of limited oil resources and promotes recycling. The product is crafted with ingenuity to achieve weight reduction while ensuring the necessary strength, and because it is composed of a single material, it is easy to recycle.
■ Nagai Fleece Wallpaper (Wallpaper cross)
While it is wallpaper, it is a new type of cloth that allows you to enjoy a rich expression like a painted wall and can be repainted over and over again.
It can be installed in the same way as general wallpaper, combining a beautiful look like a plastered wall with excellent moisture permeability and durability. It is a wallpaper in which water-based paint is carefully applied at the factory to fleece (non-woven fabric) made mainly of natural materials such as pulp; since it does not use plasticizers, it is also environmentally friendly, making it truly a next-generation wallpaper. By using fleece as the base material, high durability and installability are achieved.
Source: https://www.nagai-th.com/ja/eterno/
■ Sangetsu Tile Carpet NT700 Series
This is an environmentally friendly tile carpet that recycles waste fishing nets and carpet scraps. It has high lighting reflectivity and contributes to energy conservation in office lighting. It realizes not only CO2 reduction but also effective use of resources.
There are many benefits to introducing sustainable construction materials, such as the following.
Sustainable building materials reduce greenhouse gases generated during manufacturing and disposal, and contribute to the prevention of global warming.
Because they have a long service life and require minimal maintenance, you can reduce operational costs over the long term.
By avoiding the use of chemicals, we consider the health of the residents and provide a safe and comfortable living environment. Research has shown that this also contributes to increasing employee motivation.
The introduction of sustainable construction materials embodies initiatives for the SDGs and leads to the improvement of corporate image and brand value.
Sustainable construction materials are important for being environmentally friendly and enhancing sustainability for society as a whole. While a company or individual choosing such materials is a small step toward protecting the future of our planet, it holds great significance.
Why not add sustainable construction materials to your options when you are considering opening a new store, renovating, or remodeling an office?
BEEATS has gained a great deal of knowledge through collaborations with many famous companies as a retail marketing firm.
After obtaining a license for interior finishing work in 2015, we expanded our domain to space design and store construction, and we have now evolved into a company that optimizes store digital solutions, as well as store construction and interiors.
As interest in sustainability has grown in recent years, BEEATS has been focusing on store design and construction using environmentally friendly "sustainable construction materials."
We select the optimal sustainable materials according to our customers' requests and propose space designs that match the store's concept! We provide one-stop support, from consultation regarding sustainable construction materials to actual construction.
In addition to those challenges, such as wanting to realize a discerning space design, having a limited budget, wanting to open with a short lead time, or wanting new ideas for a store, customers interested in sustainable store creation should definitely consult with BEEATS.
Because we can handle everything in a one-stop manner, from planning, design, and drawing production to interior construction, fixture production, sales promotion tools, and customer attraction planning, we reduce unnecessary effort for those in charge. We would like you to leave every business related to shop creation to us.
Providing cutting-edge creativity
BEEATS has entered into a business alliance with ARKITAG, a company that handles many store designs targeting Generation Z in South Korea. We will also utilize South Korea's cutting-edge creativity to design and build more attractive stores.
Speedy response leveraging our network
We realize speedy responses through our national network of construction companies. In addition, by partnering with domestic and overseas factories and carrying out separate ordering, we pursue thorough cost cutting while maintaining quality. We respond speedily even to sudden orders, so please leave it to us with confidence, even for short lead times.
Providing high-quality fixtures approved by global brands at low cost
BEEATS has entered into a business alliance with ShanYoung Group, which has many global brand clients. We can provide high-quality fixtures recognized by global brands at a low cost.
We also assist with the introduction of large LED visions through the extensive network of ShanYoung Group.
We can handle various types of LEDs, so please feel free to consult with us.
BEEATS' interior construction and store installation services provide total support for shop creation, beyond just construction!
Leveraging BEEATS' extensive track record and know-how, we offer optimal proposals to solve our customers' challenges.
Please make use of BEEATS' interior construction and store installation services.
We have detailed construction examples and explanatory materials available, so please feel free to consult us. BEEATS's professional construction team will help you realize your dream of creating a store.
If you are having trouble choosing a construction contractor, please feel free to contact us.
Q1. What are sustainable construction materials?
A1. Sustainable construction materials are building materials that are sustainable from social, economic, and global environmental perspectives. They refer to materials that contribute to the realization of a society where future generations can live prosperously by reducing environmental impact through energy saving in the manufacturing process and the use of recycled materials.
Q2. What are the characteristics of sustainable building materials?
A2. There are three main features. The first is that consideration is given to the environment from raw material procurement to disposal; the second is the utilization of recycling and upcycling that reuses used materials; and the third is the selection of healthy and safe materials that refrain from the use of chemical drugs.
Q3. What are the benefits of choosing sustainable construction materials?
A3. There are mainly four benefits to their introduction. They are "reduction of environmental impact" by reducing greenhouse gases, "long life cycle" due to durability and lower operational costs, "suppression of health hazards" by providing a safe and comfortable environment, and "improvement of corporate value" through initiatives related to the SDGs.
