Bio-Based Materials Collective
The Bio-based Materials Collective (BBMC) is a cross-disciplinary initiative dedicated to advancing the use of regionally produced renewable building materials.
Co-founded by MASS, the BBMC brings together a diverse network of harvesters, manufacturers, architects, builders, developers, academics, and policymakers. Working in collaboration with local and international partners, the Collective is united by a shared urgency: the polycrisis demands bold, regenerative action and creative, cross-disciplinary solutions. By examining global systems through a local lens, the Collective traces the full lifecycle of bio-based resources—from field to factory to finished building—while developing strategies to scale regenerative materials across bioregions. It serves as a platform to share insights, tackle challenges, and grow collective action.
In 2023, the BBMC convened more than 60 participants in Boston, Massachusetts, representing every link in the bio-based construction value chain. The gathering began to address a central question: How can regionally produced renewable materials be brought to market, at scale, across North America?
Two years later, in 2025, the network reconvened in Burlington, Vermont with renewed focus and momentum. Over 80 participants traced material pathways from cultivation to construction, engaged with leaders across industry, government, and education, and mapped the steps required to accelerate regionally appropriate, regenerative bio-based solutions. Together, these gatherings continue to build energy around a growing movement that envisions a sustainable, equitable future for the built environment.
If interested in engaging with the Bio-based Materials Collective, please contact James Kitchin at jkitchin@mass-group.org.
The Bio- & Mineral-Based Materials Primer is a guide for architects and designers working on larger buildings across North America. It helps make smarter material choices by looking at how materials perform - and how they connect to ecology and culture - while being honest about both their strengths and limitations.
The Primer is composed of 8 chapters, examining materials that are currently gaining traction in architectural practice. The selected materials reflect a target of plant-based, earth-based, and biogenic carbon-enhancing systems that are increasingly relevant to low-carbon, healthy, and regenerative building design.
Based on collaborative work by MASS, Perkins&Will, and the Biobased Materials Collective—with contributions from James Kitchin, Haorong Lee, Jesce Walz, and Kendall Claus.
