Launch Announcement: The Changing Materials Website is Live!

We’re excited to introduce the Changing Materials website, a groundbreaking resource designed to help architects and specifiers reduce the use of plastic in building construction and attract manufacturers of plastic alternative materials to share and promote their products. This initiative tackles one of the major sustainability challenges of our time.

Architect Gareth Abrahams explains how our initiative is paving the way for a more sustainable future by working closely with academia. Over the past decade, there’s been a growing awareness that the buildings we inhabit play a fundamental role in achieving our sustainability goals. This shift is evident in the revisions to Building Regulations, particularly Part L, which have driven us to design more energy-efficient buildings.

However, at Changing Streams, we believe it’s time to focus not only on how materials perform but also on what they are made of. Our new Changing Materials database is designed to help reduce reliance on plastic in construction without compromising energy efficiency. This ‘first of its kind’ web-based selector tool is independent, ensuring impartial information free from manufacturer bias.

Key Features Include:

• Database: Cataloguing plastic-free, low-plastic, and recycled plastic materials for construction projects.
• User-Friendly Interface: Easy navigation to help users find suitable materials quickly.
• Search and Filter Options: Advanced search functionality to filter materials based on specific needs and criteria.
• Material Profiles: Including a brief overview of specifications. Environmental impact assessments and case studies will follow.
• Continuous Updates: Regularly updated with new materials and innovations in the field.

The construction sector is the second largest consumer of plastic, generating 50,000 tons of plastic packaging waste annually in the UK alone. If trends continue, this could triple by 2060. Our mission is to provide the industry with the tools and information needed to make better decisions and reduce plastic use.

We invite architects, designers, manufacturers, and everyone in the built environment to explore our web-based selector tool, share feedback, and contribute new materials and ideas. Together, we can challenge outdated norms and drive systemic change towards sustainability.

Visit the Changing Materials Website

Join us in creating a lasting environmental impact and building a more sustainable future.