Description
In Italy, several circular start-ups and university spin-offs active in the green building sector are producing innovative materials and building products (e.g., vegetal materials for insulation, bio-bricks, thermo-acoustic insulating panels, screeds and substrates, non-toxic natural paints) and construction systems by using local agricultural products (e.g., hemp) and by-products (e.g. wheat straw, rice straw, rice husk, food waste) proposing them as alternatives to the conventional building materials, products and systems. These products are in some cases also certified with an Environmental Product Declaration or by the ANAB-ICEA certification specific for green building products and offer many advantages (technological, aesthetics, environmental, social, healthy and comfort living). This study evaluates, by means of qualitative interviews and the life cycle assessment method, the technical, environmental and social performances of green building products and materials produced by a sample of Italian circular start-ups. The performances of these products are compared with those of conventional building products in order to grasp their positive and negative environmental and social impacts.
