First homes insulated using straw as part of the Circular Reno project
In Uden, Brabant, in the Netherlands, the first housing corporation homes have been insulated using straw from the Telers Coöperatie Agrarische Bouwmaterialen (TCAB). Straw from this region is an effective and #sustainable insulation material, meaning that tenants in the Brabant housing corporations not only save energy, but also contribute to a greener future!
First Farmers’ Cooperative in the Netherlands
In South and Northeast Brabant, the first farmers’ cooperative for fiber crops in the Netherlands has been established. With the support of Rabobank, around 18 farmers in the region have joined forces under the Growers’ Cooperative for Agricultural Building Materials (TCAB), and this number is expected to grow. It marks an important step towards an independent supply chain “from soil to structure,” ensuring proper organization and influence from the farmers.
“All questions about fiber crops in Brabant now go directly to the growers’ cooperative,” says Harold van de Ven, Chain Manager of Building Balance in North Brabant. “The cooperative also ensures the right conditions, such as quality standards and agreements with processors.”
A Successful Biobased Supply Chain
A growers’ cooperative is essential for effectively organizing the production and supply of fiber crops. “But it only makes sense within a successful biobased supply chain with sufficient demand,” Harold explains. “Brabant is leading the way in this regard. Since 2022, farmers, builders, and housing corporations have been in dialogue here. In 2023, 13 housing corporations in Southeast Brabant signed the Natural Together Builds South-East Brabant commitment declaration to achieve 100% biobased insulation within five years. Similar agreements have also been made in Mid-Brabant and West Brabant.”
Such commitments are promising, but all parties needed to act on them. And they did! By mid-2024, 31 out of 33 Brabant housing corporations have plans to insulate using plant-based materials like hemp and grain straw. Meanwhile, Brabant farmers are now cultivating over 160 hectares of fiber crops, which are processed into building materials that regional builders use in housing corporation projects.
Healthier Building with Less CO2 Emissions
One of these housing corporations is Area, which insulated its first homes with shredded straw from TCAB in May. “We want to build healthier and reduce our carbon footprint,” explains Dirk van den Tillaar, sustainability and circularity advisor at Area. “With biobased building materials, you store CO2 instead of emitting it. An additional benefit is the short supply chain from soil to structure that we have here in Brabant. It saves on transport costs and guarantees a responsible product origin. In fact, I can point to the exact field where it came from.”
Not a Pilot, But Long-Term Agreements
After insulating homes in Uden, the “Brabant straw caravan” will move on to properties managed by fellow corporation Compaen. “This isn’t a pilot project but a forerunner initiative,” Dirk clarifies. “After this first effort, we will continue with corporation homes across Brabant. Staying in the pilot phase doesn’t offer perspective to anyone in the chain, including your own organization. It only works when you make long-term agreements that everyone can literally build on. That’s easier when you know and trust your chain partners.”
John Verberne, contractor, farmer, and TCAB board member, is also optimistic about the future: “Nearly all housing corporations in Brabant have now signed the agreement, so demand for biobased building materials is really gaining momentum.”
Optimally Organising the Cultivation and Supply of Fiber Crops
“Through the growers’ cooperative, we have a single point of contact in the market,” John continues. “We can efficiently distribute the crops and set price agreements. Last year, we had several different crops. We processed them, and we also handled storage and transport. This way, we deliver products of consistent quality and in the right quantities to our customers. We hope more growers’ cooperatives will emerge across the Netherlands in the future. They could also collaborate if needed, ensuring the cultivation and supply of fiber crops are optimally coordinated and organized nationwide.”