Innovative bio-composite thermoplasters reusing organic wastes for applications in construction

It is acknowledged that the existing building stock shows many criticalities such as lack of maintenance and low-energy performance. Moreover, the present building industrial system is extremely energy-intensive beyond consuming enormous non-renewable quantities of resources. and producing greenhouse gases. On the other hand, the recent European directives (i.e. Green Deal) is forcing a full building renovation to improve the sustainability and boost the energy saving in light of the 2030 Agenda. In addition, recent regulations impose a robust waste reuse in commercial products to reduce landfilling and environmental pollution following the principles of the Circular Economy. Hence, there is a strong need to develop green materials, systems, and technologies to solve the countless instances both from a regulatory and performance points of view, also considering the financial factor which is not secondary for such an industrial sector. This paper is aimed at analyzing the possibilities offered by organic wastes’ reuse in novel green bio-composite manufacture intended for applications as sustainable thermoplasters. Hence, the relevant normative will be reviewed along with the most common systems usually used to finish/refurnish/retrofit the external building envelope. Conversely, thermoplasters - whose use in construction is presently unusual - appear to be an effective solution especially for the opportunity to exploit wastes that can efficiently improve the materials performance. Examples of products will be reported to show the possibilities offered by the incorporation of organic wastes. Such a green approach is slowly revolutionising the building sector with direct consequences on the whole construction life cycle and the novel possibilities offered by these eco-sustainable solutions able to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. The development and the desired future massive use of such waste-based bio- composite thermoplasters will improve the sustainability of the construction sector, giving new life to waste materials, and granting a financial surplus to the manufacturing industry in accordance with the industrial symbiosis approach.