Could Biomaterials Replace Steel, Plastic, and Silicon?

By Taha KhanReviewed by Frances BriggsSep 5 2025

As the world looks for sustainable alternatives to high-impact materials like steel, plastic, and silicon, biomaterials derived from renewable sources are gaining attention. But can they truly match the performance and scale of conventional materials? This article explores the promise of biomaterials, their potential applications, and the technical and economic hurdles that could slow their wider adoption.

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What are Biomaterials?

Biomaterials are materials derived from natural, renewable sources such as plants, bacteria, or agricultural waste. Typically biodegradable, they aim to reduce environmental impact by replacing synthetic, fossil-derived materials. As awareness grows around the role of synthetic materials in climate change, research into and applications of these materials have dramatically increased. 

Researchers are now investigating these materials as an alternative in various sectors, from medical implants to sustainable concrete.

Biomaterials vs Steel

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, often blended with other elements depending on its intended use. Due to its strength, stiffness, and durability, steel has been central to modern construction and infrastructure. However, it is an energetically intensive material to produce. 

The reliance on coal-based blast furnaces is a major reason for steel's heavy climate footprint. Steelmaking accounts for around 14 % of total global coal use. Direct emissions from steel production are equivalent to 2.6 gigatonnes of CO₂ annually, representing around 7 % of global CO₂ emissions. When indirect emissions are included, steel production is responsible for about 3.7 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year, which is roughly 11 % of total global CO₂ emissions.¹

To tackle this, researchers are looking for biomaterials with properties that could mimic steel but have low environmental impact. At Florida Atlantic University, researchers have explored converting traditional wood into a stronger, lighter biomaterial that could provide a greener alternative to steel and concrete in construction and furniture applications.

The researchers fortified a red oak wood via an eco-friendly experimental method. They infused its cell walls with nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxide (ferrihydrite) using a room-temperature chemical reaction. This treatment boosted the cell-wall stiffness by about 160 % and hardness by roughly 27 %, with only a minimal weight increase of less than 3 %.

However, despite these nano-scale improvements, the wood still bent in a similar way to untreated wood, likely because cell-to-cell bonding was slightly weakened. Further adaptations need to be made for it to be viable in construction.^{2, 3}

Biomaterials vs Silicon

Silicon is critical in electronics, solar panels, and sealants because of its semiconductor properties and chemical stability. Biomaterials containing silicon or silicon-based compounds are being developed primarily for biomedical applications, such as silicon-composed nanomedicine and bioactive glasses for tissue engineering and drug delivery.

A novel frontier in computing explores using biomaterials such as neurons as an alternative to silicon-based architectures. In one 2024 study, researchers demonstrated the use of biomaterial-based neuronal logic elements and sequential circuits, such as neuronal NAND gates and SR-latch flip-flops, showing stable binary data processing using neuronal dynamics. 

This comprehensive biocomputing approach presents a carbon-neutral, bio-integrated mechanism that could, in theory, replace silicon in certain data-processing contexts, especially where energy efficiency and biocompatibility are required.⁴

Biomaterials vs Plastic

Plastics are used in many applications, including packaging, textiles, and single-use products, and more, because of their adaptability, low cost, and durability. However, because of their reliance on fossil fuels for production, and because of their persistence in ecosystems, they have a hugely negative environmental impact. Biomaterials derived from bacteria, plants, and agro-residue may provide sustainable alternatives with biodegradable and lower-carbon footprints.

London-based biomaterials company, Modern Synthesis, has introduced a novel class of nonwoven fabrics crafted from bacterial nanocellulose. It offers a sustainable substitute for plastic films and synthetic or animal-derived leathers. They used a fermentation technique with Komagataeibacter rhaeticus to grow nanocellulose around textile scaffolds, resulting in high-performance, fully biodegradable materials with customizable texture and strength. Modern Synthesis’ method avoids petrochemical binders entirely, yielding a low-impact product comparable to conventional textiles in durability. ⁵

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Challenges That Will Slow a Shift to Sustainable Options

One of the main challenges in shifting towards sustainable biomaterials is performance and reliability. Materials like steel, plastic, and silicon have been optimized for decades, with well-understood properties that meet strict mechanical, electrical, and thermal requirements. Biomaterials often need further testing to ensure they can consistently match or exceed these benchmarks in demanding environments.

Similarly, scaling is challenging as many biomaterials are currently produced in research settings or through small pilot projects. Moving from the lab to mass production requires not only advanced manufacturing infrastructure but also cost efficiency that can compete with well-established industrial supply chains.

Economic considerations also play a role. Traditional materials benefit from global distribution networks and existing machinery tailored to their use. Switching to biomaterials may involve retooling factories, retraining workers, and overcoming initial costs, which can slow adoption.

Moreover, regulatory approval and market trust will take time to build. Industries like construction, electronics, and automotive must comply with strict safety and performance standards. Demonstrating that biomaterials can meet these long-term requirements is essential before widespread substitution can occur.

References

1. SteelWatch Explainer: Why steelmaking drives climate change – and why it doesn’t have to be this way. (2025). SteelWatch. https://steelwatch.org/steelwatch-explainers/climate/
2. Soini, S. A., et al. (2025). Multiscale Mechanical Characterization of Mineral-Reinforced Wood Cell Walls. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. http://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c22384
3. Oleksandr Fedotkin (2025) It will replace steel and concrete. Scientists have created a super-strong material from wood. ITC. https://itc.ua/en/news/it-will-replace-steel-and-concrete-scientists-have-created-a-super-strong-material-from-wood/
4. Basso, G., Scherer, R., & Barros, M. T. (2024). Embodied Biocomputing Sequential Circuits with Data Processing and Storage for Neurons-on-a-chip. arXiv preprint. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2408.07628
5. Alex (2025) Sustainability-in-Tech : New Class Of Sustainable Bacteria-Made Textiles. RG-CS https://www.rg-cs.co.uk/sustainability-in-tech-new-class-of-sustainable-bacteria-made-textiles/

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