Our members
MAIN GOALS - GENERAL ACTIVITIES - FIELD OF EXPERTISES
Built by Nature (BbN) is a network focused on accelerating the use of sustainable mass timber and other bio-based materials in the built environment. To urgently achieve the carbon targets of the Paris Climate Agreement, alternatives to concrete and steel are needed and they play a critical role in transforming the construction sector. BbN's primary goal is to accelerate the demand for sustainable mass timber and other bio-based materials by 1) connecting market influencers across sectors through our frontrunner network of investors, asset owners, developers, designers, cities, and insurers, 2) enabling cross-sector initiatives and supporting systemic solutions to overcome barriers identified through our network and 3) amplifying solutions within the frontrunner network and across the industry to change perceptions and awareness.
ACTIVITY RELATED TO LOW GHG AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND RESILIENT BUILDINGS
BbN was established in 2021 with the support from Laudes Foundation. BbN convenes demand-side building sector frontrunners across investors, asset owners, developers, designers, cities, and insurers (the ‘Big 6’) and has assembled a group of 25 pan-European frontrunners to date. They were selected based on their ability to address key barriers in local markets and their commitment to demonstrating and promoting the use of mass timber and other biobased materials in the construction sector. Currently active in 4 European markets: the Netherlands, UK, Spain, and Italy, BbN is in the process of further expanding its networks in Europe and globally. Last year, BbN formed a Community of Practice, with strategic partners; Bauhaus Earth; the Centre for Natural Material Innovation (CNMI) at Cambridge University; the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA); Cities4Forests; Climate-KIC; and Climate Smart Forest Economy Programme (CSFEP). Each of these partners has been at the forefront of developing critical solutions for the mass timber transformation. BbN complements their efforts by providing alignment, effective content amplification, and funding opportunities through the BbN fund. The fund supports cross-sector initiatives emerging from the Network frontrunner engagements. Funded projects focus on the ‘Big 6’ and address key barriers in the market.
