Sustainable Construction Trends

People everywhere are becoming more eco-conscious. Translate that into the building industry, and—you guessed it—this means that everyone from homebuyers to big commercial builders is interested in sustainable construction.

So, what is gaining traction in this sector? We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the patented LignoLoc® Wooden Nail System from BECK, which is the world's first among sustainable fasteners, featuring a collated nail system made from renewable, compressed beech wood. But let’s first cover some of the top sustainable construction trends that you should know about.

1. Modular Construction

What’s interesting about modular construction is that this is not a new technology. You’ve likely heard of it as a “prefabricated” building in the past—and it’s making a comeback. Whereas historically, prefabricated buildings had a reputation for being lower quality, modern modular construction is becoming popular because it’s seen some major technological upgrades that allow builders to produce innovative new structures.

What makes modular construction more sustainable? There are several factors that make it more sustainable. Number one, new technology means that manufacturers are able to use more sustainable materials, like lumber to build mass timber panels. There is also less waste involved in the building process since modules are typically built on a factory floor and assembled onsite. The construction process typically produces a lot less carbon, too. On top of that, buildings made with this construction method are typically extremely energy efficient, which reduces their environmental impact.

2. The Resurgence of Lumber

We mentioned mass timber construction above—and it’s important to distinguish it from other modular building techniques because this is one trend that is rising above the others. Whereas many modular systems rely on engineered or recycled materials, mass timber construction relies entirely on timber. Engineers create mass timber panels in a variety of different ways—but they all share one thing in common, which is that they’re comprised entirely of lumber, even including the fasteners.

In fact, that’s one reason why the LignoLoc® Wooden Nail System is becoming so popular. In mass timber construction, the goal is often to use only renewable materials—like lumber and beech wood fasteners—and LignoLoc® delivers. Builders enjoy the same speed and accuracy as with a conventional nail with our pneumatic nailer, plus the environmental advantages of a sustainable fastener.

3. Recycling Waste Materials

You’ll find recycling happening everywhere in the construction industry. Some of this recycling fetches a premium, too—like reclaimed lumber, which is a big trend in home construction and renovation. Homeowners are loving the look of rustic reclaimed barn wood for their walls, or reclaimed beams decorating ceilings. You’ll even see things like lumber from old bowling alley floors going for a high price to become an amazing new floor in someone’s home.

Recycling is also trending in the materials manufacturing industry. You’ll see this a lot with engineered products like decking boards that are made with recycled plastics and recycled wood. Options like this are becoming popular not only for their environmental friendliness, but also for their durability. Decking boards made with recycled products typically stand up better to weather and traffic than traditional lumber does.

Keep Pace with Sustainability by Using LignoLoc®

If you’re looking for a truly innovative sustainable fastener solution, LignoLoc® is it. Not only are the nails made from compressed beech wood, but there’s quite a bit of science behind them to make them incredibly strong fasteners. That’s the power of Lignin Welding. LignoLoc® wooden nails feature specially designed tips, plus they generate a large amount of heat from friction when they’re being driven. This process causes the natural lignin within the wooden fastener to weld with the wood that it’s being driven into.

Want to learn more about the technology behind this fastener system? Follow the link below for an in-depth look at how LignoLoc® System works.