Wood has been a staple building material for centuries, but with increasing demand for construction comes a huge toll on natural resources.
Every year, the amount of wood used for lumber could circle the Earth’s equator 880 times if stacked, leading to mass deforestation and harm to the environment and indigenous species.
But what if there was a sustainable alternative that not only negates the use of wood, but also sequesters carbon dioxide?
Plantd is changing the game in construction materials.
Founded in 2021, this startup has already raised $10 million in a Series A funding round and claims to produce carbon-negative panels that are cost-competitive, stronger, lighter, and more moisture-resistant than wood.
What makes Plantd unique is its ability to quickly and profitably remove carbon from the atmosphere and lock it away in the form of rapidly growing perennial grass.
The perennial grass grows 20 to 30 feet in just one year.
It can absorb up to 30 tons of CO2 at the same time and can be harvested three times in a single season, making it a more feasible and sustainable option for supply chains compared to traditional pine trees that take 15 years to replace.
Plantd is currently developing automated, electric equipment to shred the grass fibers and mesh them back together, with the goal of quickly bringing the project to an industrial scale. The company is also mindful of its own carbon footprint, with an aim to keep costs low and minimize the impact of production.