10 Building Materials Made Out Of Waste

The world has been producing colossal waste of different forms and types each year which are either dumped in huge landfills or blatantly land up in the oceans. The building industry contributes a massive amount to this humongous waste production. The 5 Rs - refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle, when implemented with intensity can put some restriction to the upsurging waste eruption. #SURFACESREPORTER in this issue takes a look at some of the materials and innovations happening across the world today which aim to relook at making waste materials work for us. Write to [e-mail] with your comments, suggestions, or for more information on such materials.

RECYCLED CORRUGATED CARDBOARD

Getting your packaged delivered in corrugated cardboard or packing fragile items in them gives peace of mind about the product being safe inside. But recycling these cardboard boxes can be challenging after use. These do not have a long shelf life unless recycled into a new product. Cardboards are made from paper pulps and turn soggy under moisture. Although most of the cardboards can be recycled but it is hard to recycle waxed and wet cardboards which can only be decomposed. With the landfills and waste dumping increasing at an alarming rate, we need to look out for alternatives to create a more sustainable environment.

It is high time to relook and explore possibilities with corrugated cardboards as a material of design and not just for packaging. Designers are rediscovering corrugated cardboard, which started out as a material for making shipping material to furniture, style lighting, ceiling, and lot more.

Cardboard, an economical and eco-friendly substance can be recycled into a strong and durable material which can be assembled easily and quickly. It can also be laser cut to create varied pieces of art and building structural materials.

Here are some new and novel ways to use cardboard in the furniture, restaurants, and homes. Bookcases, sofas, chairs and even dining tables are made out of recycled cardboard these days. Taipei-based miso Soup Design offers a Spiral Stool made of corrugated cardboard and demonstrates that cardboard furniture can be strong, beautiful, and eco-friendly too. Made from 100% recyclable cardboard, the spiral stool which can bear 100 kilograms is available in flat pieces and is easy to assemble without the need for any special tools.