Earth is currently facing a crisis encompassing exhilarating biodiversity loss, climate change, and resource scarcity. The building sector is responsible for 38% of global CO2 emissions,
including embodied and operational ones, construction and demolition of buildings contribute
to around 30% of landfill waste. The industry also has tremendous impacts on the direct
environment, like water and air pollution during construction as well as the sealing of surfaces.
To counteract these impacts, this thesis looks at Nature-based Solutions and bio-based
materials as potential mitigation strategies. A qualitative method was chosen, interviewing
professionals from the finance sector to biodiversity experts to provide a transdisciplinary
approach. Results from this research show the importance of multi-functionality, circularity, and local adaptation. There is no waste in nature and incorporating this into every step of
development processes and implementation to mitigate and adapt to climate change is essential.
To eradicate the concept of waste and build the infrastructure needed to create production
cycles is a challenge for the upcoming decades. Educational institutions could incorporate
ancient architecture, low-tech solutions, and local ecological knowledge. Traditional
craftsmanship needs to be valued more again, and awareness for incorporating nature in building
processes is nurtured.
