A Testament to Sustainable, Circular Economy Practices

Standing the Test of Time: The World's Oldest Building Material

The world's oldest building material is also one of the most sustainable, and at Strawtown, we are harnessing this in the form of reclaimed wheat straw. Wheat straw, an agricultural byproduct, would typically be burned post-harvest, sending its stored carbon back into the atmosphere. However, we purchase this straw from farmers and suppliers, preventing these emissions and repurposing the material as energy-efficient, eco-friendly wall and ceiling panels.

Sustainability at the Core of Our Manufacturing Process

Strawtown Panels are manufactured using a process that mirrors nature's ingenuity. Heat and pressure form the core of our panels, with a natural polymer from the straw acting as a binding agent. A water-based PVA glue applies a coating of recycled Kraft liner paper, resulting in panels created with no additional chemical binding agents, glues, or resins. Our manufacturing process is water and gas-free and generates zero toxic waste. At the end of their life cycle, our panels can be recycled or composted, thanks to their 100% recyclable and biodegradable nature, a testament to Strawtown's commitment to reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

Our Panels: Sustainable From Creation to Decomposition

Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond manufacturing. After serving their purpose, Strawtown Panels can be shredded and used as compost, contributing to the circular economy rather than ending up in landfills. Strawtown Panels are not just eco-friendly; they're resource-efficient too. The embodied energy content of our panels is only 12.6 MJ/m², and the straw used in their production grows back quickly, reducing resource strain. In contrast, traditional stud and plaster walls have an embodied energy content of 153 MJ/m² and the timber used can take up to thirty years to grow. Building a standard three-bedroom house with Strawtown Panels requires seven acres of straw - which will regrow within a year as a byproduct of the annual harvest. Compare this to the 44 trees needed for a stud-and-plaster wall house, requiring half an acre of clear felling and 30 years of regrowth.

Carbon Sequestration Heroes

The sustainable benefits of Strawtown Panels go beyond efficient resource use; they play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions too. Each square metre of our panel extracts 31kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Furthermore, each panel contains and locks away 8.5kg of stored carbon, contributing significantly to carbon emission reduction efforts. Investing in Strawtown Panels is not just about constructing durable, fire-resistant, and sound-absorbent buildings. It's about choosing a solution that respects our planet's resources, champions sustainability, and contributes to a cleaner, greener future.