Ljubljana, June 3, 2025 – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, Chamber of Construction and Building Materials Industry (slov. GZS ZGIGM, engl. CCIS CCBMIS), in cooperation with partners of the European project GREET CE – Green Transition in Central Europe and Non Tox Uni Kum, organized an international expert event Materials Matter – Non Tox Day.
Bio-based materials – the future is already here
The event highlighted that bio-based materials such as straw, fungi, hemp, coconut fibers, cellulose, natural resins, and other renewable resources are already achieving mechanical, thermal, and structural properties comparable to those of conventional synthetic materials. In addition to being environmentally friendly, they also offer benefits for human health, air quality, and well-being in the built environment.
Building new value chains
The event was a strategic step in the creation of new bio-based value chains that bring together research, entrepreneurship, support institutions, and funding into a comprehensive system. Intermediary bodies—chambers, clusters, research institutes, and development agencies—play a key role in this by providing access to knowledge, markets, and funding. The event thus contributed to the formation of new business partnerships, the promotion of interregional projects, and increased market visibility for Slovenian companies developing innovations with global potential. It is designed as a content platform for connecting companies, researchers, policymakers, and investors with the aim of promoting the development of new bio-based materials. It is important to present bio-based materials to the wider public, as they already achieve comparable mechanical and functional properties to traditional and synthetic materials. The market potential is huge, and the key lies in creating strong value chains that connect industry, innovation, and investment.
The bioeconomy is thus no longer just an environmental orientation, but is becoming a new economic axis in construction. The European Commission has included it in key strategic documents, as it represents a sustainable alternative to fossil resources and opens the door to new business models, jobs, and export opportunities.
The event attracted nearly 100 experts from 20 countries and 3 continents and became a platform for presenting pioneering solutions in the field of bio-based construction materials, healthy construction, and circular business models.
The event was attended by leading European and Slovenian experts: Mag. Gregor Ficko (GZS ZGIGM, Slovenia), Petra Marinko (Non Tox Uni Kum, Slovenia), Valentina Kuzma (GZS ZGIGM, Slovenia), Prof. Dr. Sascha Peters (Haute Innovation, Germany), Leila Behjat (Healthy Materials Lab EU gGmbH, Germany), Sabina Dolenec, and Dr. Polona Zalar (UL BF & ZAG, Slovenia), Matjaž Božič (Mycopor, Slovenia), Rodics Gergely (ACNT, Romania), Dušan Knežovič (Hemp Cluster, Slovakia), Primož Zorec (Cogreen, Slovenia), Branko Kašman (KO SI, Slovenia), Marina Zajec (Arhitektura E.L.I., Croatia), Doc. Dr. Stanislav Lenart (ZAG, Slovenia), Dr. Andrej Kržan (Chemical Institute, Slovenia), Dr. Alenka Mauko Pranjić (ZAG, Slovenia), Albin Kälin (EPEA Switzerland), Katja Bučan (GZS, Slovenia) and Manuel Nina (GoParity, Portugal).
They presented concrete solutions in the fields of construction using fungi, straw, hemp, natural fibers, biomineralization, coastal sediment stabilization, and digital traceability of materials. The speakers emphasized that the development of bio-based materials is no longer in the experimental phase, but is already operating on the market and is included in EU calls for proposals such as Horizon Europe, I3, LIFE, CBE, and CCRI.
Materials Matter – Non Tox Day is a reminder that the future of construction lies not only in energy efficiency, but also in the overall impact of materials on health, space, and the economy. Bio-based materials, circular models, and new partnerships enable the transition to smart and sustainable construction. The event is part of the activities within the GREET CE project, co-funded by the European Union through the I3 instrument. The aim of the project is to develop new industrial value chains that will contribute to the green transition of Central Europe. With GZS ZGIGM and partners, we are building bridges between innovation, the market, and the environment—and we invite companies to join the future of construction.
📩 More about the I3a instrument project: greetce.eu/
📢 Applications for participation in pilots and chain development: zgigm@gzs.si
Event photos and videos are uploaded here:
https://www.gzs.si/zbornica_gradbenistva_in_industrije_gradbenega_materiala/Novice/ArticleID/90022/gradivo-fotogalerija-in-posnetek-materials-matter-non-tox-day-slovenija-kot-evropsko-sticisce-bio-inovacij-v-gradbenistvu