Samenvatting

AbstractDue to the crisis of 2008 the construction and real estate market became more demand-driven. Architects, builders and developers are looking for high-quality solutions for the realization of sustainable buildings. Supplying SMEs experience an increasing demand for bio-based materials with lower environmental impact and additional functionality including smart functions. The development of sustainable products with higher added value is required to increase the innovation potential of the building and construction industries.Polypyrrole is a biopolymer with very interesting and yet relatively unexplored features for construction. By applying PPY to bio-based carrier materials, like wood, bamboo or bio-composites, environmentally friendly building products can be realized with multiple features. In this paper an inventory will be given of potential (smart) functions that can be added to bio-based building materials treated with PPY. Functions discussed will be the protection against micro-organisms and UV-radiation. It will allow the realization of biological multifunctional building façades without using environmentally harmful substances.Finally the adding of (smart) functions will be discussed as strategy to introduce new bio-based building components to the market. Here they will have to compete with existing products already known by the different building professionals.