EKONAT bio-based construction materials

Project summary

EKONAT is a brand of innovative bio-based construction products developed by RSK France to replace petrochemical plastics commonly used on construction and ecological engineering sites. The initiative addresses a long-standing environmental gap in the construction phase by introducing biodegradable and plant-based alternatives that reduce carbon emissions, eliminate microplastics and support circular economy principles while maintaining operational performance on site.

The background

For more than a decade, construction and development projects have incorporated increasingly demanding environmental requirements. However, the construction phase remained a significant environmental blind spot. Despite detailed environmental management plans, temporary plastic products such as barrier tape, protective caps and erosion-control staples continued to generate waste, contribute to plastic pollution and risk accidental burial on construction sites.

The concept for EKONAT emerged from direct field experience gained through RSK France’s environmental monitoring projects, was delivered by ADEV Environnement and was supported by the RSK France research and development hub at Larçay. Repeated observations showed that behavioural guidance alone was insufficient to eliminate plastic waste from construction activities.

The issue was not simply site practices but the materials themselves. Conventional ecological engineering works still rely on tools borrowed from civil engineering – petrochemical plastics, steel and untreated timber. Untreated timber is vulnerable to insects, moss and lichen; steel corrodes and can affect soil quality; single-use plastics fragment into microplastics. Even widely used ‘natural’ alternatives such as coir products are often imported and chemically treated.

Work undertaken by partner Rosobren to develop reed-based biomaterials created an opportunity to replace conventional petrochemical plastics with renewable alternatives. Following strategic integration into RSK’s sustainability ambitions, EKONAT evolved from an innovation project into a structured product range supporting biodiversity, climate and circular economy objectives that is built on a 100% bio-based, 100% European material formulated from reed biomass.

The challenges

From a technical perspective, the team had to develop bio-based alternatives that could match the mechanical performance, durability and practicality of conventional single-use plastic products. Achieving the right balance between geometry, mechanical resistance and material behaviour required extensive formulation work, mould development and technical testing. Each product presented unique engineering and manufacturing challenges. These included:

• formulating a plant-based compound that remains stable through injection and extrusion at 160–190°C without degrading the biomass
• controlling filler rates for each product; higher biomass content improves the environmental profile but reduces mechanical strength, so each product required its own grade
• delivering controlled biodegradation so products survive the works programme, while breaking down safely if left in the ground
• matching the health and safety performance of the products being replaced
• securing a reliable, traceable French supply of reed biomass and recycled binders, and industrialising the process from laboratory trials to series production
• keeping products compatible with existing site practice so that contractors need no additional training or equipment.

The solutions

EKONAT was developed as a comprehensive portfolio of bio-based alternatives to replace temporary construction plastics by making use of a reed-based biomaterial. Innovations include:

• biodegradable erosion-control staples made from 100% plant-based polymers
• biodegradable barrier tape, certified OK compost by TÜV Austria
• hemp–reed felt tree protection products that eliminate microplastics
• bio-based rebar protection caps designed to meet health and safety requirements while reducing environmental risk
• reed-based marking chains that replace conventional polyethylene safety chains
• ecological equipment such as nest boxes, insect hotels, plant protection sleeves and mulching felts
• a durable ‘nature’ furniture line of benches, tables, bins, bollards, handrails, palisades, fencing and swing barriers that replace untreated timber and steel.

Products were designed to integrate with existing construction practices, ensuring adoption could be achieved without significant changes to site operations. Continuous testing, formulation optimisation and life-cycle assessment support ongoing improvement of the product range.

The impact

EKONAT represents a shift in how environmental performance is addressed during construction. Instead of relying solely on behavioural controls, we can reduce environmental risks through the materials themselves.

Environmental benefits include 35–50% lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional alternatives, carbon sequestration during use, the elimination of microplastics and support for circular economy principles. Because the reed feedstock comes from the maintenance of wetlands and reedbeds, every tonne of material used also helps fund the ecological management of natural habitats – one tonne of reed corresponds to 1000 m² of reedbed maintained, and one hectare of reedbed absorbs around 12 tonnes of CO₂ each year.

Depending on the application, the same material family can be specified as biodegradable (single-use site products) or as a durable grade guaranteed for 30 years (outdoor furniture and site equipment).

Economically, the solution can reduce waste management costs, improve environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in procurement processes, lower reputational risk and help organisations anticipate future regulations on conventional plastics.

For the wider sector, EKONAT demonstrates that ecological engineering can be delivered with tools designed for nature rather than borrowed from civil engineering – an approach directly aligned with RSK’s sustainability ambitions and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It also creates a new French industrial channel, from habitat management through to manufacturing, keeping value and jobs in the regions where the material is harvested.