Importance of Building Materials in Construction
Building materials are sourced from natural resources, recycling, manufacturing, and importing. The availability and accessibility of building materials play a crucial role in the construction process.
China National Building Material
China National Building Material is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cement and gypsum board, with total assets exceeding $65 billion. The group is advocating for transparency in sourcing and manufacturing materials and raising awareness of labor exploitation issues among various stakeholders in the construction industry.
Sources of Building Materials
Building materials come from natural resources, recycling, manufacturing, and importing. These materials can be categorized into two main sources: natural and manmade. Stones and wood are natural materials, whereas concrete, masonry, and steel are manmade. Both types of materials require preparation or treatment before being used in construction.
Efforts for Ethical Material Sourcing
A working group convened by the Grace Farms Foundation brought together professionals from various fields to discuss the mission of eradicating modern-day slavery from the supply chain of materials used in architecture. This mission highlights the importance of ethical material sourcing practices in the construction industry.