The MRQ Network shone at the 2nd edition of the FIBEQ!

1 August 2022

On June 21, 2022, the Quebec Renewable Materials Innovation Network (MRQ) took part in the 2nd edition of the Forum Innovation sur la Bioéconomie au Québec (FIBEQ), by presenting a session on bio-based construction materials, led by Pierre Blanchet with the support of the MRQ network.

The first part of the session highlighted some of the MRQ network’s research projects on the development of new and innovative structural products based on and/or including wood, including: a weather barrier (Renaud Drissen-Robert, UL), a biosourced membrane for the building envelope (Masoud Dadras Chomachayi, UL), fireproofing systems for interior wood (Marie Soula, UL) and the development of alternatives to sprayed insulation in wood construction (Manon Beaufils-Marquet , UL).

The students excelled and showed the potential of bio-based building materials to meet the requirements of the circular economy.
The second part was in the form of a panel discussion on “Biobased materials in construction, Is a new paradigm?”.

This panel was moderated by René Couture (E=Mk2)

The panelists who came to share their vision on the emergence and future of biobased materials in construction in Quebec are:

  • Michel Provencher, general manager of Nature Fibres, hemp wool producer
  • Josée Lupien, president of Vertima, specialist in product and manufacturer certification
  • Bruno Verge; architect associated with BOON architecture, dedicated to ecological concepts
  • Jean-Yves Bergeron; Senior Researcher, KEMITEK

The MRQ Network team had the opportunity to learn about the benefits of marketing the first hemp insulation in America. The relevant and constructive discussions also highlighted the growing interest in products with a low environmental footprint in construction.  A better understanding of the life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon capture concepts that biobased materials provide in comparison to other non-biobased products on the market, will allow for a better assessment of the role of these materials in reducing GHGs from construction projects.

It has also been shown that the support of different levels of government and organizations such as CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) and SHQ (Société d’habitation du Québec) is increasingly important and that the decision-making bodies are even in a position to be forerunners in the promotion of biobased building materials in public projects in Quebec.

Photo credit: Pierre Blanchet and Manon Beaufils-Marquet


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