Lignik, developed by Pakistani energy scientist Dr. Adeel Ghayur in Australia, is set to transform the construction industry by offering an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution to the global housing crisis. For Pakistan, where the shortfall of affordable housing has reached nearly 15 million homes, the introduction of this technology presents a critical opportunity to address the crisis while significantly reducing carbon emissions and construction costs.
The implementation of Lignik in Pakistan will first require a detailed cost simulation analysis, similar to the approach taken in Australia. Initial estimates suggest that building homes with Lignik and similar sustainable materials could remove 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In addition, the large-scale adoption of this technology could offset around 600 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be generated through the production of conventional construction materials like bricks, cement, and steel. These carbon reductions could be leveraged for carbon credits, further improving the financial feasibility of using Lignik in the housing sector.
At present, all cost estimates for Lignik are based on Australian data, where the cost of construction using this material is already less than half of traditional methods. Given Pakistan’s lower labor and operational costs, it is expected that Lignik-based construction could be even more cost-effective, making it an attractive option for addressing the country’s housing crisis.
Dr. Adeel Ghayur, Chief Technology Officer at Allied Biorefinery in Australia, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of Lignik during a WhatsApp conversation with The Express Tribune. He explained that the material is designed to actively mitigate waste and emissions, reimagining the future of sustainable housing. Unlike traditional building materials, Lignik is fully recyclable and can be reused in real-world applications without generating construction waste. It is the world’s first biosynthetic wood, produced microbially from carbon dioxide and biowaste, and engineered for 3D printing in a wide range of applications.
With an urgent need for affordable housing, Lignik provides a sustainable alternative to conventional materials like wood, bricks, cement, and steel. The efficiency of 3D printing technology means that a 100-square-meter (approximately 25 feet by 43 feet) house could be printed within a single day using Lignik. This level of speed and efficiency could be a game-changer in the housing sector, particularly in low-income communities where rapid and affordable housing solutions are desperately needed.
Beyond affordability, Lignik offers exceptional durability and resilience against environmental factors. Accelerated aging and weathering tests conducted in Australia have confirmed the material’s ability to withstand extreme climate conditions. Dr. Ghayur emphasized that this robustness makes Lignik particularly suitable for Pakistan’s climate. Houses constructed with Lignik can be designed to provide superior resistance against natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, making them an ideal choice for regions prone to these hazards. Structural engineering requirements tailored for disaster-prone areas could be integrated into housing designs to ensure maximum safety.
In addition to its structural advantages, Lignik is an active contributor to climate change mitigation. The production process of this material captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, effectively reversing emissions. A single 100-square-meter house built with Lignik can remove approximately 10 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air. On a commercial scale, a production facility costing approximately AUD 200 million in Australia could produce enough Lignik to construct 10,000 homes annually, removing 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. These numbers suggest that if Pakistan were to implement similar facilities at a fraction of the cost, the impact could be substantial.
The estimated operational costs for such a facility in Australia stand at AUD 42 million per year. However, due to significantly lower labor and operational costs in Pakistan, a similar facility would require far less capital investment. Additionally, the adoption of 3D printing technology in housing construction could lead to further reductions in labor costs, making mass-scale production of Lignik-based homes even more affordable.
The need for sustainable construction materials is not just limited to Pakistan but extends across the broader Asian region, where rapid urbanization is creating an unprecedented demand for housing. According to the International Energy Agency, by 2050, the total floor area of new construction in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, and India will amount to approximately 70 billion square meters. Meeting this demand with conventional materials would require more than 160 billion tonnes of raw materials, resulting in an estimated 28 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Such extensive construction activities threaten the environmental sustainability goals of many Asian countries, which aim to balance economic growth with climate change commitments.
The over-reliance on traditional building materials has also led to serious environmental and social challenges. The mining of clay for bricks has resulted in the degradation of fertile topsoil, contributing to food insecurity. Similarly, excessive sand mining for concrete production has destroyed river ecosystems, leading to severe environmental damage. In many regions, the construction materials industry has become associated with exploitative labor practices, rising costs, and even criminal activities. Pakistan, in particular, is facing an increasing shortage of sustainable construction resources, further exacerbating the problem.
The introduction of Lignik presents a viable solution to these pressing challenges by offering a scalable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative to conventional building materials. Its potential to revolutionize the housing sector, reduce carbon emissions, and support a circular economy makes it a strategic asset for Pakistan. If properly implemented, this innovative technology could pave the way for a new era of sustainable development, making affordable and green housing accessible to millions. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether Pakistan can leverage this breakthrough to reshape its construction industry and address the country’s growing housing needs.
