A home built out of used nappies? Here’s why it doesn’t stink

Scientists just built a home out of used nappies – here’s why 

A home made of used nappies may sound outlandish and more than a little bit unappealing, but it could be the future of sustainable housing. Left to linger in landfill sites, non-biodegradable waste is one of the biggest environmental issues our planet faces. However, a team of scientists has devised an ingenious way to recycle nappies, while supporting low-cost housing initiatives. Research published in the Scientific Reports journal indicates that some of the sand used in concrete and mortar to construct houses could be replaced with shredded nappies without compromising a structure's stability. Click or scroll on to find out more... 

High-performing material

In a pioneering study that's the first of its kind, scientists from the University of Kitakyusha in Japan have found that concrete made from nappies performed just as well as conventional building materials. To prove their hypothesis, they put their data to the test and took on the dirty work of building a 387-square-foot house in Indonesia with their innovative nappy concrete, proving that it could indeed stand safely.

Sustainable switch

Their research found that for non-load-bearing walls, up to 40% of the sand in concrete could be replaced with nappy shreds. Overall, up to 8% of the total amount of sand used to construct a single-storey house could be substituted in this way. The sand used in conventional concrete and mortar can have serious environmental ramifications. Unsustainable sand mining can lead to coastal erosion and the collapse of riverbanks, so finding an alternative that can minimise at least some of this mining is a major step forward.

Reducing plastic waste

Modest and rustic inside, the recycled concrete was proven to have identical properties to conventional concrete. As well as reducing sand mining, this innovative material is a great way to reuse one of the world's biggest sources of plastic waste. Disposable nappies can't usually be recycled, so most either end up in landfill or are incinerated, a process that releases pollutants into the environment.

A long road ahead

Given the monetary and environmental cost of sand mining and the abundance of discarded nappies, this recycled concrete could support the construction of low-cost housing in areas in need. The scientists behind the paper suggest that building regulations could be changed to permit the use of this material in construction. However, they also acknowledge that despite their successful prototype, there's a long way to go to scale up such an idea. For now, their research will focus on the thermal and acoustic performance of the recycled concrete, as well as streamlining their waste collection process.

Read on to discover more ingenious eco home-building materials

READ MORE: Green building alternatives

Sleek concrete homes might be all the rage right now but these days there's a whole host of eco-friendly options that are just as effective as traditional building materials. From rammed earth to straw bale and cork, who says sustainability and striking architecture can't be a match made in heaven? Click or scroll on to discover the latest in green building...

Building a home with mycelium

Mushrooms are usually the province of the fridge, not the building site. However, an exciting new development has revealed the untapped potential of fungi. Mycelium, the long thread-like roots of the mushroom, act like glue when bound to agricultural byproducts, creating a super strong and durable material. Mycelium’s uses in the world of construction are multifaceted: it can make powerful insulation and cladding, and it can even be shaped into blocks or bricks. Grown rather than produced in a factory, this compostable and sustainable material could herald an exciting future for the building industry.

The Growing Pavilion, Eindhoven, Netherlands

The Growing Pavilion is one of the first forays into mycelium architecture. A temporary events space, the remarkable structure is a collaboration between Biobased Creations, the Dutch Design Foundation and Klarenbeek & Dros. At first glance, the pavilion looks otherworldly, with its mottled skin seemingly dripping over the timber frame. In fact, it's made entirely from bio-based materials and the walls comprise panels of growing mycelium. Designer Pascal Leboucq explained: "The stains and the natural growing texture of the mycelium is beautiful, forming a kind of organic skin instead of an evenly white wall."

The Growing Pavilion, Eindhoven, Netherlands

The pavilion was first unveiled at Dutch Design Week in 2019 and was also a part of Mycelium Parc at the 2022 Floriade Expo in Amsterdam. To create the distinctive exterior, moulds measuring six feet tall by almost three feet wide were packed with hemp waste – the perfect environment for the mycelium to grow – and within just a week, the panels were covered in the fungi. The frames were then baked to harden the panels and stem the growth of the mycelium, before being coated in a protective bio-based solution ready for assembly.

The Growing Pavilion, Eindhoven, Netherlands

While the mycelium panels are light and easy to reconfigure, they offer powerful thermal and acoustic insulation too. The flooring of the pavilion is made from compressed bulrushes, while the tent-style ceiling is constructed from cotton, adding to the structure's eco credentials. Even more impressively, mycelium captures twice its weight in carbon dioxide emissions – it cleans the air as it grows, rather than contributing to pollution like concrete and other manmade construction materials. 

The Growing Pavilion, Eindhoven, Netherlands

The pavilion is decorated with furnishings derived from organic materials, including a mycelium ottoman, a seaweed lamp and benches constructed from rice straw boards. Incredibly, edible mushrooms can still grow from mycelium, and during Dutch Design Week, oyster mushrooms were harvested daily from the walls. Visitors were even sent home with bags of mushrooms to cook for their dinner. While there's still some way to go to make this eco material suitable for wide-scale home building, mycelium could be a truly game-changing alternative to conventional construction methods.

Building a home with hempcrete

Made by mixing the woody part of the hemp plant with lime, hempcrete boasts impressive airtightness and insulation for a cosy home all year round. What's more, these sustainable bricks absorb and release internal moisture vapour, preventing condensation and damp from taking hold. With costs comparable to those of conventional construction methods, hempcrete is high on our list of eco alternatives. 

Hempcrete house, Haifa, Israel

Designed by architectural practice Tav Group, this hillside home in Israel was built using only natural, locally sourced building materials. With hempcrete walls coated in a thick layer of earth-based plaster, concrete didn't even get a look-in on this sustainable project. 

Hempcrete house, Haifa, Israel

Rustic and pared-back, the property was created for environmental and social activists, and the architects say that this is the first time that hempcrete has been used in Israel. In keeping with the area's traditional architecture, stone from a local quarry was carved onsite to form the lower levels of the property, where an artist's studio is located.

Hempcrete house, Haifa, Israel

Inside, earthy tones and textures create a tranquil and light-filled living space. Exposed wooden beams overhead and bespoke kitchen cabinetry complement the interior's soft, neutral colour palette and draw on the hues of the home's rugged mountainous setting.

Hempcrete house, Haifa, Israel

Its hempcrete construction has made the home very thermally efficient, preventing the dwelling from overheating in the hot sun. Aided by design too, this inner courtyard allows a soft sea breeze to flow through the main living spaces, offering effective cross ventilation.

Building a home with straw bale

Straw bales are the ultimate multitasker − providing structure, insulation and an ideal surface for plaster. You can either choose to build with full bales or opt for prefabricated timber and straw panels. This recycled material can last over 100 years with proper care and it's 100% biodegradable too. While it might sound like a fire risk, studies have shown that homes built with compressed bales are no more flammable than conventional structures. Because the bales are so densely packed, there typically isn't enough oxygen for a fire to rage.

Straw bale house, Ontario, Canada

Fusing style with sustainability, this contemporary home in Ontario was built with prefabricated straw bale walls, measuring a toasty 40 centimetres thick. Dense insulation helps to minimise the property's energy usage, while carefully positioned windows ensure the structure is well-ventilated.

Straw bale house, Ontario, Canada

The roof conceals an array of eco-friendly secrets, including a garden habitat for wildlife and 36 solar panels. Designed by architects Office Ou, the firm says it's the first electrically net-zero straw house in the Canadian city of Hamilton, meaning it produces as much energy as it consumes.

Straw bale house, Ontario, Canada

Step inside and you'll find a minimalist family living space. The kitchen features sleek white units and transparent chairs, offset against warm and welcoming timber floors. Style certainly wasn't an afterthought in this carefully designed dwelling.

Straw bale house, Ontario, Canada

Throughout the interior, natural textures take centre stage against a thoroughly modern aesthetic. In the bathroom, grained marble softens angular lines. An abundance of daylight is channelled through the property via skylights, reducing the homeowner's reliance on electric lighting.

Building a home with rammed earth

Put simply, a rammed earth home is made by compacting layers of subsoil earth inside a frame. Once set, the framework is removed to reveal freestanding, durable walls. As there's no manufacturing process involved, it's an incredibly eco-friendly construction option and the earth can simply be reused if you opt for a rebuild in the future. Cleverly, rammed earth walls are nature's central heating, absorbing warmth from the sun and slowly releasing it throughout the day.

Rammed earth home, Hanoi, Vietnam

Nestled in the Dong Anh District of Hanoi, this colourful home has a distinctive striped exterior thanks to its rammed earth construction. A traditional building method in northwestern Vietnam, architects Vo Trong Nghia wanted to celebrate this age-old construction process with a modern architectural twist. 

Rammed earth home, Hanoi, Vietnam

Built in 2017 to accommodate a multigenerational family, the interior was designed as a series of private and communal spaces. An open-plan living space lies at the heart of the home, extending the full width of the dwelling. Floor-to-ceiling glazing creates a seamless flow between indoors and the garden outside.

Rammed earth home, Hanoi, Vietnam

The rammed earth walls are an impressive 35 centimetres thick, which makes them durable enough to bear the weight of two storeys without additional supports. A natural insulator, the soil-based structure offers the best of both worlds – a warm and cosy interior in the winter and a cool ventilated space in the summer months.

Rammed earth home, Hanoi, Vietnam

A closer look at the roof reveals a hidden green oasis flourishing in the sky. Quirky planters host fruit trees, while a terrace garden offers the perfect vantage point to enjoy views of the home's remote, rural landscape.

Building a house with cork

This one might seem a little out there, but bear with us. Fire-resistant, waterproof and easy to shape, cork is an overlooked construction option that has a whole lot to offer. Its durable structure makes it ideal for home building, while its speckled texture offers a unique tactile finish.

Cork tiny house, Vila Real, Portugal

In Portugal, where the majority of the world's cork comes from, this prototype mobile cabin sits nestled amongst woodland. Constructed from cork panels and wood, it's easy to assemble and sits raised on stilts to accommodate a variety of terrains.

Cork tiny house, Vila Real, Portugal

The project was designed by startup Ecocubo to encourage visitors to leave behind the hubbub of city life and reconnect with the natural world. Measuring a snug 96 square feet, the tiny house can comfortably house up to two intrepid explorers at a time.

Cork tiny house, Vila Real, Portugal

The structure's deceptively simple interior is packed full of clever, versatile storage. A compact sofa extends to create a double bed, while the kitchen units conceal a fridge and cooker, along with pull-out stools and a table to accommodate larger gatherings.

Cork tiny house, Vila Real, Portugal

It may be designed for tiny living, but this sleek space lacks none of the necessities. Tucked away in a side panel, the bathroom includes a modern composting toilet and shower. And it's equally as comfortable come the winter months – thanks to its cork façade, the structure remains insulated and cosy all year round.

Building an earthbag home

To create these unique earthbag homes, sandbags are filled with moistened earth and arranged in circular layers. Barbed wire is used to secure each layer and reinforce the structure, which is then finished with plaster. Derived from techniques used to build military bunkers, this sturdy method has passed even severe earthquake code tests in California. Impressive!

Earthbag house, California, USA

Dubbed the Eco-Dome, this earthbag design was created by CalEarth, a not-for-profit organisation that provides sustainable housing solutions for people without homes or who've been displaced due to natural disasters or war. A modular layout, it can be built as a double domed structure to provide additional bedrooms if necessary.

Earthbag house, California, USA

Pictured here following a renovation, the light-filled Eco-Dome features a stylish, neutral interior with tiled flooring, soft arches and a wealth of natural textures. Rustic tiles and hand-carved apertures add an earthy, characterful feel to the surprisingly spacious eco home.

Earthbag house, California, USA

It may only measure 400 square feet, but this pocket-sized home packs a punch when it comes to energy efficiency. A rocket mass heater and a 'wind scoop' passive cooling system ensure that the temperature remains in the Goldilocks zone, no matter the season.

Earthbag house, California, USA

Radiating off from the central open-plan living area, you'll find light-filled circular rooms, including a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. While the sleeping space is snug, it's overflowing with architectural features, from the circular porthole window to the rustic exposed plasterwork.

Earthbag house, California, USA

Nestled in the apex of the ceiling, a vast skylight illuminates the heart of the house and offers the perfect vantage point for stargazing when night falls. Thanks to these clever sources of illumination, the great outdoors is never far from sight.

Building a house with cob

Used in construction for centuries, cob is traditionally made by mixing clay-based soil with water, sand and straw. It's then shoveled or stamped together and laid onto a stone foundation to dry out. You'll need a little patience though, as this first stage alone can take up to a fortnight. Nevertheless, cob homes are robust and low-cost, with a tiny carbon footprint, so the wait may just be worth it.

Cob house, Mayne Island, Canada

This unique cob cottage looks as though it's escaped from the pages of a fairytale. Hand-sculpted curved walls and an irregular wooden roof create an utterly enchanting façade. We're half expecting Snow White to emerge from the woods...

Cob house, Mayne Island, Canada

Located on Mayne Island, on the southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia, this endearing property is bursting with charm. The staircase balustrade looks as though it's come fresh from the forest, with its natural grain and quirky irregular angles preserved.

Cob house, Mayne Island, Canada

Cob walls create an impressive natural heat store, providing plenty of insulation for residents. But just in case the winter nights become especially bitter, the sculpted fireplace can be lit up for a warming evening around the hearth.

Cob house, Mayne Island, Canada

Upstairs, the characterful wooden barrel ceiling creates a cocooning slumber space, while a vast skylight draws in lots of natural light. Fancy calling this cute cob dwelling home for a few days? It's available to rent for short stays on Airbnb.

Building a house with Timbercrete

Invented in Australia, Timbercrete comprises a mixture of recycled timber waste, sand and binding mortars. It's moulded or pressed into blocks and used in a similar way to conventional concrete bricks, minus the need for kiln firing. With a higher insulation rate than masonry systems and higher fire resistance levels too, it's a great route to a comfortable, energy-efficient home.

Timbercrete house, Mudgee, Australia

At first glance, there's nothing out of the ordinary about this home in Mudgee, Australia. A popular building system down under, this striking contemporary property is made from Timbercrete blocks, which offer plenty of architectural flexibility and a robust frame for construction.

Timbercrete house, Mudgee, Australia

The open-plan interior of this four-bedroom home is bathed in light thanks to a clever inset skylight in the roof. Sleek and stylish, Italian marble flooring is offset against a Tasmanian Blackwood kitchen island, while an alfresco terrace leads off from the main living space.

Timbercrete house, Mudgee, Australia

The home's characterful brickwork is left exposed inside for an industrial-style edge, while the robust Timbercrete structure regulates the internal temperate for minimal heating bills.

Timbercrete house, Mudgee, Australia

Set within five acres, the views from the eco home are spectacular, reaching above the trees to the distant mountains. As well as its super-efficient frame and stylish interior, the home includes ample space for parking and storage, with enough land to add a pool.

Building an Earthship home

These innovative green structures are built from recycled or salvaged waste materials – old tyres, bottles and even beer cans. Each Earthship contains around 1,000 tyres which provide plenty of natural insulation. Created by architect Michael Reynolds, these alternative homes are completely self-sufficient, containing sustainable water harvesting and sewage systems, and producing their own electricity, heating and food.

Earthship Ironbank, Adelaide, Australia

A quaint bed and breakfast, this incredible Earthship is the perfect place for those looking to experience off-the-grid living. Seven years in the making, you'll find Australia's first Earthship tucked away in the picturesque hills of Adelaide.

Earthship Ironbank, Adelaide, Australia

Designed for two people, the bright open-plan interior features beautiful picture windows that draw the rural landscapes inside. The kitchen is powered by solar energy and includes a clever sustainable water supply. There's even a wood oven – ideal for homemade pizzas!

Earthship Ironbank, Adelaide, Australia

Recycled materials are given a stunning new lease of life in the most surprising ways. In the bathroom, coloured glass has been inset into the walls to create a beautiful stained-glass effect. Daylight shines through this artful feature wall, elevating the neutral scheme into a thoroughly enchanting space.

Earthship Ironbank, Adelaide, Australia

Nothing goes to waste in this ingenious eco home. Water is harvested from the roof of the Earthship and used for washing and drinking. The waste is then utilised to water the innovative indoor garden, and recirculated to the toilets for flushing, before watering the outdoor garden.

Building a home with bamboo

Bamboo grows incredibly fast, making it one of the most sustainable building materials out there. Strong and supple, some bamboo species even have the same strength ratio as steel. Thanks to its elasticity, it's a popular choice in areas where hurricanes and earthquakes strike, absorbing seismic shocks and high winds far better than more rigid structures. 

Bamboo house, Pipa Beach, Brazil

Designed by Vilela Florez, this luxury bamboo home was constructed in Brazil's rural northeast. Oriented towards the spot's prevailing winds, its clever design creates a natural passage of air across the gardens and into the bedrooms, cooling the thick tropical heat. 

Bamboo house, Pipa Beach, Brazil

Finished in only 10 months, the dramatic exterior features bamboo stick panels arranged in a striking herringbone pattern. It spans 1,938 square feet, encompassing three ensuite bedrooms and an outdoor kitchen and living zone.

Bamboo house, Pipa Beach, Brazil

Natural textures are incorporated indoors too – this intricate wood feature wall acts as a commanding, oversized headboard. Inspired by the homeowner's sailboat trips through the Mediterranean, the interior draws on the region's crisp, clean colours for its simple but stylish aesthetic.

Bamboo house, Pipa Beach, Brazil

Each of the spacious bedrooms opens out onto the main outdoor living area, which is sheltered by stone walls and a wooden canopy. An expansive pool measures the length of the property and provides the perfect place to soak up the sun. Now, wouldn't you say that they are better than concrete?

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