Roti, kapda, but not makaan: Why sustainable construction is not getting the attention it needs

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

SBI Youth of India, she was shocked to see the farm waste being generated and the practice of stubble burning. “So much of renewable resources were being wasted. There was a surplus of it,” she says.

This inspired her to start Strawcture, a company that makes building materials and panels out of agricultural waste. These panels can be used to make drywall, false ceiling, furniture as well flooring options. The founder and CEO of Delhi-based Strawcture sees this as a way to bring sustainable practices to construction — a segment that has not seen any real innovation in the materials used.

In today’s world, where every company is looking at ways to go greener with its processes and products, perhaps there hasn't been enough focus on this area of construction. Among the basic necessities of roti, kapda and makaan, the first two — food and clothing — are seeing a lot of changes towards embracing sustainability. However, the housing or construction industry has only seen piecemeal efforts in this area.The construction industry is known to be one of the most conservative industries as it has followed a similar pattern since ages.

Pandey says that the last innovation in the construction industry was cement, which started replacing lime mortar after the 1820s. The construction industry might be the last one to become sustainable, she says.Emotional investments Some of the reasons behind this include lack of awareness, a conservative mindset and fear of large investments going wrong. “Construction, fundamentally, is a very closed industry.