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As the world grapples with a housing deficit affecting billions of people, the construction sector faces another challenge: buildings account for roughly 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Which begs the question, why are we overlooking the value of traditional building materials?
Here is a comparison between earthen (mud-based) construction and conventional cement-based construction:
🌍 Earthen construction
✔️ Very low embodied carbon
✔️ Excellent thermal comfort, reducing cooling needs
✔️ Lower costs and local sourcing
✔️ Supports livelihoods and traditional skills
✔️ Circular and highly recyclable
🏗️ Cement-based construction
✔️ High structural strength
✔️ Greater durability and water resistance
✔️ Suitable for high-rise and dense urban environments
✔️ Standardized engineering and building codes
Increasingly, climate-smart housing points to hybrid approaches - combining stabilized earth blocks with reinforced foundations and improved design - to deliver affordable, resilient, and low-carbon homes.
When combined with modern engineering, traditional materials offer a pathway toward housing that is more sustainable, more affordable, and better adapted to local climates.
As cities continue to grow, perhaps the future of construction lies in rethinking and upgrading the materials and knowledge that have served communities for centuries.
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📢 UN-Habitat is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Scroll of Honour Award.
If you know an individual, organization, or initiative making a meaningful contribution to housing and sustainable urban development, consider recognizing their work.
Nominations are open until 23 June 2026, with awards to be presented on World Habitat Day (5 October 2026).
🔗 Learn more and submit a nomination search "Scroll of Honour" or visit https://urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/2026-scroll-honour-call-nomination
Which begs the question, why are we overlooking the value of traditional building materials?
Here is a comparison between earthen (mud-based) construction and conventional cement-based construction:
🌍 Earthen construction
✔️ Very low embodied carbon
✔️ Excellent thermal comfort, reducing cooling needs
✔️ Lower costs and local sourcing
✔️ Supports livelihoods and traditional skills
✔️ Circular and highly recyclable
🏗️ Cement-based construction
✔️ High structural strength
✔️ Greater durability and water resistance
✔️ Suitable for high-rise and dense urban environments
✔️ Standardized engineering and building codes
Increasingly, climate-smart housing points to hybrid approaches - combining stabilized earth blocks with reinforced foundations and improved design - to deliver affordable, resilient, and low-carbon homes.
When combined with modern engineering, traditional materials offer a pathway toward housing that is more sustainable, more affordable, and better adapted to local climates.
As cities continue to grow, perhaps the future of construction lies in rethinking and upgrading the materials and knowledge that have served communities for centuries.
--
📢 UN-Habitat is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Scroll of Honour Award.
If you know an individual, organization, or initiative making a meaningful contribution to housing and sustainable urban development, consider recognizing their work.
Nominations are open until 23 June 2026, with awards to be presented on World Habitat Day (5 October 2026).
🔗 Learn more and submit a nomination search "Scroll of Honour" or visit https://urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/2026-scroll-honour-call-nomination
With Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – We just got recognized as one of their top fans, again! 🎉
"Climate change is a material issue for adidas across its entire value chain, with most GHG emissions arising upstream. Physical risks, including changing weather patterns and more frequent extreme events, could affect material availability, supplier operations, logistics and infrastructure, with implications for costs and continuity of supply. adidas also faces transition risks linked to emissions pricing, regulation and increased stakeholder scrutiny. "
"Athletes do not settle for average. And neither do we. We have a clear mission: To be the best sports brand in the world. Every day, we come to work to create and sell the best sports products in the world, and to offer the best service and consumer experience – and to do it all in a sustainable way. We are the best when we are the credible, inclusive, and sustainable leader in our industry."
"Addressing these risks also creates strategic opportunities: increasing the share of renewable electricity, improving energy efficiency, accelerating the coal phase-out in the supply chain and reducing product carbon intensity to strengthen supply chain resilience and support long-term value creation."
"Athletes do not settle for average. And neither do we. We have a clear mission: To be the best sports brand in the world. Every day, we come to work to create and sell the best sports products in the world, and to offer the best service and consumer experience – and to do it all in a sustainable way. We are the best when we are the credible, inclusive, and sustainable leader in our industry."
"Addressing these risks also creates strategic opportunities: increasing the share of renewable electricity, improving energy efficiency, accelerating the coal phase-out in the supply chain and reducing product carbon intensity to strengthen supply chain resilience and support long-term value creation."
The journey to success through Sacco
Discover, save, invest and grow
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Discover, save, invest and grow
#cooperatives #coopnews #Coopsday #Saccos #Sacconews
"At PUMA, we play by the rules. We have not received any environmental fines within the last decade. The purpose of our environmental efforts is to ensure that PUMA and its suppliers are in full environmental compliance and any negative impact on the environment is minimized."
"With Vision 2030 we have set ourselves targets in Climate, Human Rights and Circularity which we plan to achieve by 2030."
"PUMA’s sustainability approach spans all of the company’s business functions, from product design to sourcing, and addresses the social and environmental impact of our own operations and our supply chain."
"This includes working with our partners to improve raw material traceability, reduce waste, cut our environmental impact and address human rights issues in the supply chain."
"Our PUMA sustainability strategy is centered around creating maximum positive impact. This means integrating sustainability into our main business and volume styles."
"As a sports company, continuous improvement is part of how we operate. We approach sustainability in much the same way: by measuring progress and focusing on areas where we can achieve meaningful impact. Our strategy also aims to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals."
"In terms of sustainability, the highest governance body at PUMA is the Sustainability Committee of the Supervisory Board...sustainability falls under the responsibility of the Chief Operating Officer, although all members of the PUMA Management Board are frequently updated on sustainability topics....the functional heads of PUMA are members of the Executive Sustainability Committee. This group is responsible for the supervision and setting up of our sustainability strategy....the members oversee the progress of PUMA against our sustainability targets."
"With Vision 2030 we have set ourselves targets in Climate, Human Rights and Circularity which we plan to achieve by 2030."
"PUMA’s sustainability approach spans all of the company’s business functions, from product design to sourcing, and addresses the social and environmental impact of our own operations and our supply chain."
"This includes working with our partners to improve raw material traceability, reduce waste, cut our environmental impact and address human rights issues in the supply chain."
"Our PUMA sustainability strategy is centered around creating maximum positive impact. This means integrating sustainability into our main business and volume styles."
"As a sports company, continuous improvement is part of how we operate. We approach sustainability in much the same way: by measuring progress and focusing on areas where we can achieve meaningful impact. Our strategy also aims to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals."
"In terms of sustainability, the highest governance body at PUMA is the Sustainability Committee of the Supervisory Board...sustainability falls under the responsibility of the Chief Operating Officer, although all members of the PUMA Management Board are frequently updated on sustainability topics....the functional heads of PUMA are members of the Executive Sustainability Committee. This group is responsible for the supervision and setting up of our sustainability strategy....the members oversee the progress of PUMA against our sustainability targets."
Dutch engineers, through the startup Respyre, have developed bioreceptive concrete bricks that encourage moss to grow on building surfaces, turning urban facades into living, self-sustaining ecosystems.
These bricks are made from a porous, nutrient-rich concrete formula — largely composed of recycled material — that gives moss the surface it needs to take hold. Because moss anchors itself with tiny rhizoids rather than penetrating roots, it clings to walls without causing structural damage.
The environmental benefits are substantial. Moss-covered surfaces absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, filter particulates and other pollutants from both air and water, and cool buildings through evapotranspiration. The temperature difference is striking: a plain concrete wall can reach 60°C in direct sun, while a moss-covered one stays around 30°C, significantly cutting the need for mechanical cooling.
Maintenance is minimal. Once established, the moss relies on natural rainfall and ambient humidity, making it a cost-effective option for cities looking to build greener. Pilot installations in the Netherlands — including social housing balconies in Amsterdam's Rivierenbuurt and exploratory applications on wind turbine bases — are already demonstrating what this technology can do at scale.
By improving air quality, supporting urban biodiversity, and reducing the heat island effect, moss bricks offer a scalable, low-resource path toward healthier, more sustainable cities.
Images are generated by AI and for demonstration purposes only.
Source: Bleij, A., & de Kruijff, M. (2022). Bioreceptive concrete for urban greening: Moss growth on building facades. TU Delft / Respyre.
#sustainability #greencities #urbaninnovation #architecture #climateaction #livingwalls #mossconcrete #netherlands #greenliving #fblifestyle
These bricks are made from a porous, nutrient-rich concrete formula — largely composed of recycled material — that gives moss the surface it needs to take hold. Because moss anchors itself with tiny rhizoids rather than penetrating roots, it clings to walls without causing structural damage.
The environmental benefits are substantial. Moss-covered surfaces absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, filter particulates and other pollutants from both air and water, and cool buildings through evapotranspiration. The temperature difference is striking: a plain concrete wall can reach 60°C in direct sun, while a moss-covered one stays around 30°C, significantly cutting the need for mechanical cooling.
Maintenance is minimal. Once established, the moss relies on natural rainfall and ambient humidity, making it a cost-effective option for cities looking to build greener. Pilot installations in the Netherlands — including social housing balconies in Amsterdam's Rivierenbuurt and exploratory applications on wind turbine bases — are already demonstrating what this technology can do at scale.
By improving air quality, supporting urban biodiversity, and reducing the heat island effect, moss bricks offer a scalable, low-resource path toward healthier, more sustainable cities.
Images are generated by AI and for demonstration purposes only.
Source: Bleij, A., & de Kruijff, M. (2022). Bioreceptive concrete for urban greening: Moss growth on building facades. TU Delft / Respyre.
#sustainability #greencities #urbaninnovation #architecture #climateaction #livingwalls #mossconcrete #netherlands #greenliving #fblifestyle
