When is a material biobased? NTA 8230 provides the sector with an unambiguous definition
So when is a product really biobased? That question sounds simpler than it turns out to be in practice. With the publication of the NTA 8230 series, NEN has now provided an answer. The series offers the construction sector an unambiguous definition and a verifiable method for determining the biobased content of products and construction works.
Biobased is not the same as renewable
Biobased and renewable are often used interchangeably in the construction sector, but they do not mean the same thing. Biobased materials originate from living biological sources, such as wood, flax or hemp. Renewable is a broader concept: it also includes abiotic materials that can form again within a human timescale, such as river clay. All biobased materials are renewable, but not all renewable materials are biobased.
What does the NTA 8230 contain?
The NTA 8230 series consists of four parts, of which three have been published. NTA 8230-1 is the core document: it establishes what biobased means and describes the exact method for calculating the biobased content on the basis of dry mass, disregarding moisture. Manufacturers demonstrate the biobased content through a laboratory test with isotope analysis (radiocarbon dating) or through a complete administrative material balance. If the biobased share cannot be demonstrated according to this methodology, it may not be counted.
NTA 8230-3 provides guidelines for biobased board materials based on wood and other lignocellulosic raw materials. NTA 8230-4 describes the requirements for biocomposites as a building component. Part 2, on fire safety aspects, is expected in June 2026.
What does this mean for the environmental performance calculation?
The NTA 8230 and the environmental performance calculation each answer a different question. The NTA 8230 determines what percentage of a product is biobased. The environmental performance calculation determines the total environmental impact of a product over its entire life cycle, by means of a life cycle assessment.
You can read more about biobased materials and how Stichting NMD supports biobased construction on our webpage.
More information
On the biobased environmental declarations in the NMD page, you can read how Stichting NMD is increasing the availability and quality of environmental data for biobased construction materials, so that these materials can be fully included in environmental performance calculations.
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