Is there eco-friendly drywall?

This is actually a really good question that we've been trying to figure out.  We have some answers but the biggest problem is that eco-friendly drywall is still very much developing.  Drywall manufacturing is one of the top three producers of greenhouse gas pollution when it comes to building materials.  If you think about it drywall is everywhere in our homes and buildings, it makes up almost 80% of the material with in our structures.  Having an eco-friendly drywall option is vital if we are to succeed at green building.   The few options currently available for eco-friendly drywall consist of an Austrailan product called Durra Panels created by Ortech Industries and an American product call EcoRock which may or may not still be available (we're still awaiting a reply from the manufacturer Serious Materials or Serious Energy).

Durra Panels are manufactured with agricultural waste by-product from wheat and rice straw, very similar to strawboard.  The contents of Durra panels are usually disposed of after a harvest through a burning process that releases additional carbon emissions. During the manufacturing of Durra Panels the bio-waste materials are heated and pressed to form a hard panel core. The natural polymer in the straw is processed and works as an organic binding agent.  To complete the drywall a non-toxic PVA glue with a water base covers the panel core with recycled Kraft liner paper.  Durra Panels can be recycled, turned into mulch, or safely disposed in landfills.   Based on our research Durra Panels are not available in the U.S., the pricing and cost effectiveness of this product is unclear.  EcoRock is a green alternative to traditional gypsum drywall. It is made of 80% recycled content from cement and steel manufacturing plants. The overall manufacturing procedure is less energy intensive since it’s naturally cured and dried without the use of heat or other harsh chemicals.   The manufacturer of EcoRock is Serious Materials or now known as Serious Energy, Inc has had difficulty over the last few years and may not be currently producing EcoRock.   We'll up-date this post if they reply to our e-mail in the future.

It's clear eco-friendly drywall seemingly has a long way to go.  Standard gypsum drywall is a very affordable building material, adding a significant amount of cost to go eco-friendly will be difficult for home owners and builders.  But clearly we have to do something and we expect and hope that more eco-pioneers join the effort to create an eco-friendly drywall alternative!