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New European Bauhaus Prizes 2024

Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking

HopfON
We develop building materials made from the waste of the hop industry
HopfON is tackling the construction industry's carbon footprint with a game-changing approach to sustainable building materials derived from hop waste. Ideal for insulation and construction panels, hop-based materials could significantly reduce CO2 emissions and resource consumption. Since most parts of the hop plant are not used for beer production, this innovation also presents an opportunity for cost-effective, closed-loop recycling. We aim to revolutionize both the building and agri sector.
EU Member State, Western Balkans or Ukraine
Germany
Regional
Hallertau, Bavaria, Germany
No
No
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Prototype level
No
No
No
As an individual partnership with other persons/organisation(s)
Yes

The primary aim of HopfON is to revolutionize sustainable construction by developing innovative building materials sourced from waste hops, thereby creating a circular, environmentally friendly industrial ecosystem that intertwines both the agriculture and construction sectors. Our target groups are diverse, ranging from construction firms keen on adopting sustainable materials, to hop producers facing waste management challenges, to local communities who stand to benefit from eco-friendly and cost-effective building solutions, and policy-makers interested in setting new sustainability standards. Our specific objectives include the development of hop-based materials for various construction applications, such as insulation and acoustic tiles; the rigorous scientific validation of these materials; the establishment of a closed-loop recycling system for the end-of-life hop-based products; and the creation of a scalable, socially responsible business model. So far, we have established a proof-of-principle for the hop-based materials, developed first prototypes that passed initial tests, engaged with stakeholders in both agriculture and construction, and positively impacted local socio-economic development. The HopfON project fits seamlessly within the category "Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking" as it offers a transformative approach to both raw material sourcing and waste recycling. We serve as an inspiring example of the move towards circular economy practices in industrial ecosystems, with a strong emphasis on social inclusion and affordability. We provide a practical, scalable solution that enhances life quality and adheres to the principle of "Design for all".
circular economy
material development
local sustainability
construction industry
life-cycle thinking
The key objectives of HopfON in terms of sustainability are fourfold: resource efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, circular economy, and socio-economic impact.
Firstly, our project aims for resource efficiency by utilizing waste hops, an abundant by-product in the hop industry, to create valuable construction materials. This not only alleviates the waste burden but also taps into a readily available resource, thereby conserving other raw materials. This objective has been met through the successful creation of hop-based prototypes for acoustic tiles and insulation.
Secondly, we target carbon footprint reduction by developing materials that require less energy-intensive production processes and that could potentially be produced locally, reducing transport emissions.
Thirdly, HopfON is built around the concept of a circular economy. Our aim is to create materials that can be broken down into their component parts at the end of their lifecycle, facilitating closed-loop recycling. We have conducted initial tests demonstrating the feasibility of reusing our hop-based products, aligning with circular economy principles.
Lastly, we aim to have a positive socio-economic impact by creating new market opportunities for hop producers and sustainable material options for construction, fostering job creation and community development. Preliminary stakeholder engagement indicates strong interest and potential partnerships, confirming that our approach can have broader societal benefits.
Our project serves as an exemplary model for sustainable practices in industrial ecosystems for several reasons. By integrating waste management, resource efficiency, and a circular economy into a unified solution, we not only fulfill but go beyond conventional sustainability goals. The project addresses multiple stakeholders and sectors, offering a comprehensive model that can be adapted for various industrial applications, making it a paradigm of sustainability and circularity.
The aesthetics and quality of experience are central to HopfON, aiming to demonstrate that sustainability and design excellence are not mutually exclusive. We have focused on creating construction materials with unique textures and finishes, exploiting the natural characteristics of hop fibers to offer a variety of aesthetic options. Our aim is to appeal not just to the construction industry's pragmatic needs but also to architects and designers seeking innovative, visually pleasing materials. Prototypes of our acoustic tiles and insulation panels, for example, have been designed with a focus on both form and function, receiving positive feedback for their aesthetic attributes during conversation to architects and designers.
In terms of cultural benefits, HopfON aims to create a narrative around local and natural materials, thereby fostering a stronger connection between individuals and their built environment. By utilizing hops, a crop deeply rooted in local agriculture and culture, we are essentially embedding a piece of cultural history into modern construction. Our project also promotes the concept of "design for all," focusing on inclusive design that can be universally enjoyed, and which enhances the quality of life for the end-users.
HopfON stands as an exemplary project in this regard by seamlessly integrating aesthetics, user experience, and sustainability. We challenge the traditional compromise between aesthetics and eco-friendliness, showing that it is possible to achieve high standards in both. The project can serve as a blueprint for how to approach sustainable design without sacrificing quality of experience, thereby setting a new standard that others in the industry can aspire to.
One of the core objectives of HopfON is to foster inclusion on multiple fronts, from material affordability to design accessibility. We have deliberately sought to create construction materials that are not only eco-friendly but also economically competitive. By utilizing waste from the hop industry, we aim to offer a more affordable alternative to other alternative construction materials, making alternative materials more competetive to traditional materials. This contributes to social inclusion by making sustainable building options more accessible to a broader range of socioeconomic groups.
In terms of design, the "Design for All" principle is ingrained in our project ethos. We aspire to make our products as universally applicable as possible, thereby ensuring they are accessible to people of all abilities and backgrounds. This includes consideration for ease of installation, adaptability, and long-term usability of our hop-based products.
Our governing system for the project also reflects this inclusive orientation. We have an open-source approach to knowledge-sharing, encouraging input and participation from various stakeholders. This ensures that a wider range of perspectives are considered in the development process, contributing to a more comprehensive and inclusive outcome.
HopfON stands as an exemplary project for how inclusion can be integrated into the fabric of product design and development. Through our focus on affordability, accessibility, and community engagement, we're setting a standard for how projects can be both high-quality and inclusive. This approach offers a scalable model for inclusivity that can have far-reaching implications not just in construction, but in the broader context of sustainable industrial ecosystems.
Citizens and civil society have been deeply integrated into the fabric of the HopfON project, playing a pivotal role in shaping its trajectory and amplifying its impact. One of our most significant initiatives was the creation of a diverse network of stakeholders, uniting experts and enthusiasts from the construction and agriculture sectors. This multidisciplinary platform has served as a rich breeding ground for innovative ideas, fostering discussions that have led to potential collaborations and innovations that extend well beyond the scope of this single project.
Farmers, who are integral to our supply chain and the sustainability loop we aim to create, have been especially involved. Our direct dialogues with them have not only helped fine-tune our material sourcing strategy but have also exposed these agricultural experts to novel, sustainable methods of waste utilization. These interactions have invigorated discussions within the community that transcend generational and socio-economic divides, thereby promoting a more comprehensive understanding of sustainability and its socio-economic benefits.
The impact of this multi-level, cross-sector involvement has been profound. Stakeholder feedback has directly influenced our research and development process, ensuring that the materials we produce meet real-world needs and expectations. Moreover, these interactions have strengthened the project's social license to operate, gaining us the trust and buy-in from communities who stand to benefit most from our work. In summary, the citizen and civil society engagement in HopfON has not only validated our approach but also enriched the project, infusing it with a level of social capital and practical insight that would be difficult to achieve otherwise.
In the design and implementation of the HopfON project, stakeholder engagement was methodically tiered across local, regional, and national levels to maximize impact and relevance.
At the local level, we prioritized on-site interactions to minimize transportation impact, aligning with our project's sustainability ethos. By embedding ourselves in local communities, we gained nuanced insights into specific needs and available resources. This localized focus helped us create solutions that are directly beneficial to the immediate community, enhancing the project's social acceptability and overall impact.
Regionally, we extended our engagement to various areas in Bavaria, which we consider our primary target group.
At the national level, we have sought to align our project goals with German policies on sustainable development and circular economy, though the depth of our engagement here has been comparatively less. Our ambition, however, is to eventually extend this model to a European scale, applying our technology to different types of agricultural waste across the EU.
Though international exchange hasn't been deeply explored yet, our project has the potential to make a significant impact at the European level by offering a replicable, sustainable solution to waste management and building material production.
The added value of this tiered stakeholder engagement is multi-faceted. Locally, it has allowed us to build trust and test our models in real-world settings. Regionally, it has provided a framework for scaling and adapting our technology, making the project more robust and versatile. Nationally, it aligns us with broader sustainability initiatives, increasing our project's eligibility for various forms of support and collaboration. Overall, this diverse stakeholder involvement has enriched our project, making it more resilient, adaptable, and poised for future growth.
The design and implementation of the project is a confluence of various disciplines and knowledge fields, bringing together expertise from construction, architecture, material research, agriculture, and business/economics. This multidisciplinary approach was critical in addressing the complex challenges of creating sustainable, circular building materials from agricultural waste.
Representatives from the construction industry, including construction firms, provide invaluable insights into the practical considerations for new building materials, such as durability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use. Their input helps to guide the material research and architectural planning aspects of the project, ensuring that the final product will meet industry standards and requirements.
Architects bring their expertise in design and spatial considerations, helping to evaluate how well the materials integrated into existing and potential future building designs.
Experts in material research play a crucial role in testing the properties of hops as a building material, focusing on aspects such as insulation capabilities, acoustic properties, and flammability. The testings provided the initial scientific foundation upon which the project is building, ensuring that the materials were not only sustainable but also functional and safe.
Professionals from the agriculture sector help us understand the full lifecycle of hop cultivation, harvest, and waste. They are instrumental in identifying opportunities for sourcing the raw materials sustainably and provided insights into the feasibility and scalability of using agricultural waste for construction.
On the business and economics side, mentors from TUM and the ecosystem help frame the project within a larger economic context, assessing market demand and cost implications. They also guide us in forming a viable business model that aligned with principles of social entrepreneurship and impact investments.
The HopfON project sets foot in an industry often mired in traditional practices and materials. While the mainstream construction sector continues to grapple with issues of sustainability, relying heavily on energy-intensive materials like concrete and steel, HopfON has successfully harnessed agricultural waste—specifically, hops—to create eco-friendly building materials. This offers a twofold advantage: reducing waste in the agricultural sector and providing a more sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials.
Moreover, our product is designed with a "closed-loop" recycling model in mind. Unlike many construction materials which end up in landfills at the end of their life cycle, HopfON's materials can be broken down into their component parts for reuse, enabling a circular economy in the construction sector.
Our multidisciplinary approach, involving experts from fields as varied as construction, agriculture, material research, and business, adds another layer of innovation. This collaboration has facilitated a more holistic solution that addresses not only the environmental aspects but also the economic and social dimensions, making the project a true embodiment of sustainable development.
But perhaps what sets HopfON apart most distinctively is its focus on local solutions for a global problem. By engaging closely with local and regional stakeholders in Bavaria, we've demonstrated a community-centric model that can be adapted to different types of agricultural waste and local needs, thereby having a far-reaching impact that can extend to the EU and potentially even beyond.
In the HopfON project, our methodology so far was rooted in a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together professionals and researchers from fields such as construction, agriculture, material science, and business economics. This diversity in expertise allowed us to tackle various aspects of sustainability, functionality, and market viability from multiple angles. Our initial phase involved extensive research and consultations with industry experts to identify the gaps in existing construction materials and sustainable alternatives. Simultaneously, we also engaged with farmers to understand the scale and characteristics of hop waste.
After gathering sufficient data, we moved into the prototyping stage, where various blends of hop-based materials were created to understand different types of binders and different ways to split up the hop plant and produce it into panels. At the same time we characterized the hop plant through various tests, such as insulation properties and flammability. Throughout this phase, we maintained an open channel of communication with our network of stakeholders from different industries. Regular meetings and feedback sessions provided us with critical insights that significantly influenced the design and material properties.
We also spent a lot of time talking to potential partners and costumers. This also paved the way for a pilot project where our hop-based construction materials will be tested in a real-world setting.
By integrating these varied inputs and feedback loops into our methodology, we are able to develop a product that is getting better every iteration. The synergies formed through these interdisciplinary collaborations enhance the project's scope, quality, and impact, making the products a holistic solution to the complex problems facing the construction and agricultural sectors.
The HopfON project is designed with scalability and adaptability in mind, making it ripe for replication in various contexts and geographies. The methodology we employed, which blends expertise from multiple disciplines like agriculture, construction, and material science, can serve as a template for other communities seeking to solve localized problems with global implications.
One of the most transferable elements of our project is the technology we developed for converting agricultural waste into construction materials. While we focused on hop waste in Germany, especially the region of Hallertau, the same process can be adapted for different types of agricultural byproducts that are locally abundant in other regions. This makes HopfON not just a solution for our immediate community but a framework that could be adjusted to leverage local agricultural waste streams around the world.
Furthermore, the lessons we've learned about balancing ecological benefits with economic viability could be invaluable for new projects. Our pursuit of a product that is not only sustainable but also cost-competitive could serve as a case study for how to break into mainstream markets that have been slow to adopt eco-friendly alternatives.
Lastly, our pilot project will hopefully serve as a tangible proof of concept that can be showcased to stakeholders in other regions, aiding quicker adoption and implementation.
In summary, from our multidisciplinary approach and stakeholder engagement methods to our technology, multiple aspects of the HopfON project could be replicated or transferred to create impactful, localized solutions for global sustainability challenges.
The HopfON project addresses several global challenges by offering innovative, local solutions. First and foremost, we tackle the issue of unsustainable construction materials that contribute significantly to global CO2 emissions. By repurposing waste from the hop industry into eco-friendly building materials, we are essentially turning a local byproduct into a solution for a global problem, thereby lessening the carbon footprint of the construction industry.
Another global challenge addressed is waste management in agriculture. Tons of agricultural waste are generated worldwide, much of which ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to pollution and global warming. HopfON takes a circular economy approach by recycling hop waste, setting an example for how agricultural byproducts can be sustainably repurposed.
The project also indirectly contributes to rural economic development. By creating a demand for agricultural waste, we're opening up new revenue streams for farmers. This approach can be replicated in agricultural communities globally, strengthening local economies and contributing to global food security by making farming more economically viable.
Furthermore, we're addressing the challenge of sustainable transport. The project aims to minimize transport distances by sourcing and processing materials locally, reducing CO2 emissions tied to transportation. This is a particularly pertinent issue given the global urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in every sector.
In summary, HopfON sets a precedent for how localized actions can offer scalable solutions to global challenges, including environmental degradation, waste management, and sustainable economic development.
In the yearof 2024, our primary focus will be on refining and validating our Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The insights from the pilot project with the city of Mannheim at the end of this year will be crucial for this phase. The pilot will provide invaluable data on user behavior and feedback, as well as allow for large-scale testing of the acoustic properties of our materials. These learnings will directly feed into product development in the early part of the year of 2024, ensuring that we are truly meeting market needs.
Simultaneously, we will be elaborating on our go-to-market strategy, leveraging the momentum and visibility gained from the pilot project. Our aim is to formally establish a company from the HopfON project and launch our product to the market in 2024. A detailed business plan will be developed to navigate this pivotal phase, including sourcing strategies to secure enough hop waste for production. This is particularly time-sensitive as hop harvesting occurs annually, typically at the end of August and beginning of September. Resource allocation and supply chain planning will therefore kick off in mid-2024 to ensure we have adequate raw material for the end of the year and into 2025.
Alongside these core activities, we will continue to engage with our stakeholder network, whose input has been invaluable in shaping HopfON thus far. Their involvement will be instrumental as we scale, both in fine-tuning our product and in identifying new opportunities for innovation and market expansion.
Overall, the coming year will be a blend of product development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, aimed at transforming HopfON from a promising concept into a market-ready, scalable solution.
  • Proof of Principle - insulation properties, sound absorbtion, flammability.pdf
    (8,49 MB - pdf)
    Download
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