Natural materials

Natural materials are increasingly preferred by many customers and suppliers due to their sustainable credentials. If we can limit the cost to the environment of the materials we choose, this offers a huge incentive for their use. But are natural materials up to the job, and can they realistically replace their non-natural competitors? This one day conference, organised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining as part of National Science and Engineering Week 2008, examined the use of natural materials in such diverse areas as construction, biofuels, clothing, healthcare and packaging, assessing their advantages and disadvantages.