Built By Nature
Impact Sector
Green Infrastructure
Type of Strategy
Innovate
Project Location
Europe
In a nutshell
If our homes were made of sustainably sourced timber, we could avoid over 100 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2100. Manufacturing carbon-intensive materials, such as steel and concrete is extremely damaging for the climate, and timber as a lower-carbon alternative is the solution most people don’t know about yet. When grown and harvested sustainably, timber produces the least CO2 emissions of any building material, and even reduces CO2 in the atmosphere. Uptake of mass timber faces regulatory, technical and perceptual barriers. This project supports initiatives to identify solutions to overcome them, which in turn will increase the uptake of timber. It aims to change mindsets across Europe and beyond: making the benefits of timber and other bio-based construction materials known and calling into question our reliance on more traditional materials, such as steel and concrete.
Climate Problem
Accounting for nearly 40 per cent of global energy-related carbon emissions, the building sector must play a pivotal role in the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable economy. Currently, the manufacture of steel and concrete account for half of the building sector’s carbon emissions. But providing sustainable alternatives to these materials will require shifts across technology, culture and mindset.
To address the pollution that comes from construction, the benefits of timber as a building material must be made common knowledge across the building sector – at a scale that can make a difference. At the same time, we need to resolve the remaining obstacles to its adaptation at all stages of its production and use.
Timber doesn’t yet have enough backing to take a prominent place in construction. Creating demand for this climate-friendly building material must be tackled locally, nationally, across the EU, and globally. This project promotes timber in construction with stakeholders across the building sector – liaising with local councils, developers, investors, architects and more. Built by Nature (BbN) builds networks and facilitates collaboration, while funding solutions that improve timber use and address remaining barriers. It is currently incubating a network in Germany.
Project Solution
How we build our homes, schools, offices and shops impacts us all. The Built by Nature Fund evaluates and supports solutions that address the barriers to scaling mass timber. This includes initiatives that tackle technical, regulatory or financial barriers, or new approaches that increase the climate impact of timber buildings through circular thinking and regenerative sourcing.
The Fund has built extensive stakeholder networks and connects grantees with relevant partners and advisors to maximise their impact. To date, it has supported 32 solution-focused projects involving 107 partners across eight countries in Europe. Since its launch in 2021, the BbN Fund has awarded a total of 3.8 million euros in grants. BbN also holds regular roundtables to facilitate information sharing and networking. While the Fund is already up and running, to extend its reach into more countries and expand into other bio-based materials, it needs greater support.
Once sustainable buildings are embraced among the demand-side market players across cities, the potential for impact is enormous. To reach this tipping point, BbN supports small and large initiatives at the local and national scale. Using sustainable mass timber means radically reducing embodied carbon; safely storing carbon in buildings for generations; and sequestering carbon through championing forest stewardship and regeneration. In short, it’s a solution for a climate-safe future.
“Our fund is a pooled philanthropic fund that we have set up to find, curate and support targeted solutions to decarbonise construction. Contributing to the BbN Fund is an efficient way to ensure a low-risk, structured, and targeted impact through a tried-and-tested grant making mechanism.”
- Operational since July 2021
- Team of 13 employees
- Headquarters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
About the organisation
Built by Nature is a network and grantmaking fund driven by the mission to accelerate the timber building transformation in Europe. The non-profit organisation is actively working to move the building sector towards sustainability, and away from carbon-intensive materials. By revolutionising the processes making up the lifecycle of a building, it’s possible to significantly reduce embodied carbon, and the emissions associated with materials and construction processes.
Endorsing partner
The Laudes Foundation is a founding partner of the Built by Nature Fund and helps to accelerate the timber building transformation, connecting industry and city frontrunners, creating the networks and opportunities for sector-shaping coalitions and knowledge sharing.
How your donation helps
We have the unique opportunity to transform our built environment from being one of the largest net emitters of greenhouse gas emissions into being a large-scale carbon sink. In the next few years BbN plans to increase both awareness and uptake of timber and other biobased materials as a sustainable alternative, as well as improved regulation. Building upon its achievements in accelerating the timber building in Europe over the past 3 years, BbN is also embarking on a new strategy cycle that includes an expansion of its scope: 1) going from a strict demand-side focus to engagement with supply-side to ensure the presence of sufficient safeguards related to sourcing, 2) including other biobased materials while retaining a timber-first approach, and 3) going from Europe-only to beyond Europe. Doing this and securing the broad buy-in of the sector requires greater financial capacity. Currently, BbN are proud to have the backing of three major donors who are instrumental in this mission. However, to make a broader impact and drive even more significant change, BbN seeks additional donors to join them on this transformative journey. With your support, BbN can bring us closer to a timber and biobased building material transformation. The Built by Nature Fund will speed up the adoption of sustainable mass timber and other biobased materials as a climate friendly, fashionable and sustainable alternative building material.
By 2030 there are financial incentives and business models in place for bio-based construction.
The timber supply chains are transparent and traceable, preventing the risk of unintended consequences on ecosystems and communities.
Industry standards for best practice timber design and construction improve, and successful examples inspire and educate the industry.
Why we chose the project
"BuiltbyNature has dedicated itself to a complex topic: one that could revolutionise our built environments, and move us closer to carbon neutrality. Their team has already channelled 2.3 million Euros into projects across seven countries – an amount exceeded in co-funding from the market."
Gabriele Liautaud
Lead Grants and Climate Projects, Active Philanthropy
All our projects are:
aiming for systemic solutions in due time
having a track record in achieving similar goals
addressing co-benefits such as health or justice
endorsed by renowned climate funders
vetted by our rigorous due diligence process
monitored by us and reporting back to donors
Milestones
Choose your funding
Your donation to Built By Nature will innovate the sector of Green Infrastructure
Seed
KEY SUPPORTER
Grow
PROJECT PATRON
Flourish
CLIMATE CHAMPION
Receive bi-annual reports on how your funded project is progressing
Meet the people behind the project, ask your questions, and build connection (online)
Book an exchange with our Active team to discuss latest trends in climate funding (online)
Support our work
Active Philanthropy runs this platform and operates as an independent non-profit. For you, we find, vet and promote the climate solutions presented here. Please support us with a share of your donation!
Contact details
Summary
Please check all your information again and confirm your choice with the button below.
Your donor level
Seed
KEY SUPPORTER
Grow
PROJECT PATRON
Flourish
CLIMATE CHAMPION
Receive bi-annual reports on how your funded project is progressing
Meet the people behind the project, ask your questions, and build connection (online)
Book an exchange with our Active team to discuss latest trends in climate funding (online)
Your donation
Built By Nature
Active Philanthropy
I confirm that all information is correct and would like to make a binding donation. All details and options for transaction will be sent to your email immediately. After completion you will receive a donation receipt in accordance with German law.
Thank you for reaching out!
We will respond as soon as possible.
As a non-profit organisation, Active Philanthropy is non-partisan and independent from governments, financial institutions and NGOs. We are funded by donations and grants from individuals and non-state organisations as well as service fees.
Active Philanthropy gGmbH
Caroline-von-Humboldt-Weg 8
10117 Berlin
info@activephilanthropy.org
www.activephilanthropy.org