In the European market the demand for “healthy live and habitation” and for innovative natural building materials has increased substantially during the last 10 years. In the past natural building materials have had a “green” image, only used by some specialised architects serving a relatively small market niche of ecological orientated clients. Because of missing market opportunities, limited quantity and quality of natural construction materials, and tailor made solutions these kinds of materials have not been interesting for a bigger industry level.
But as a result of rising ecological and health awareness and existing health problems people increasingly ask for sustainable produced construction materials that do not exhale toxic chemicals. More and more architects promote green building design and sustainable architecture technology. Especially the business field of earth building materials is increasing in the last years. A new dimension for further developments lies in the certification of earth building products. The first steps of certification of earth plasters with the new European label for sustainable building products “natureplus” are done, other European certifications of „edificial-biology“ standards will follow.
Furthermore, due to existing and upcoming restrictive environmental and human health legislations, many of currently used toxic building materials will no longer be acceptable. The EU White Paper on the Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy (2001) aims at a better protection of environment and human health through appropriate risk management based on adequate information about dangerous properties of chemicals. Chemical substances are considered to play a major role in inducing allergies. Allergy costs are estimated at € 29 billion/year in Europe22. The REACH policy and the growing conscience on health risks of conventional indoor materials make it necessary to find substitutes or alternative materials which are healthy, economic and easy to use.