The Impact and Scaling of Bio-Based Building Materials

The construction sector accounts for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet solutions targeting embodied carbon in building materials have lagged behind other climate interventions. MASS Design Group’s Abundant Futures Design Lab partnered with NYU Wagner to advance the Material Futures initiative, a project exploring how the Northeast’s building industry can transition toward regenerative, locally sourced, bio-based materials. Focusing on Boston and Poughkeepsie as case study cities, our team conducted policy analysis, stakeholder research, and systems mapping to assess the current landscape of bio-based material adoption across the region. We examined barriers to scaling adoption, including supply chain gaps, regulatory constraints, financing challenges, and market readiness, while identifying opportunities for policy intervention and community-centered design. Our final deliverable provides MASS Design Group with a proposed path to scale: actionable recommendations on appropriate consumption levels and regional scaling strategies for bio-based materials. The report is designed to be accessible to policymakers, local governments, and industry practitioners working to advance circular economy and climate goals across the Northeast.