It is not wood, but it looks like it. It is made with agricultural waste, in particular rice skins, and can be used for coatings, external floors, fences and panels. It is called Acre and was developed in the United States by a company that deals with alternative and low impact construction materials.
The point is not only the aesthetic – which recalls tropical woods such as Teak, Ipe and Cedar – but the production process. Acre was born in a zero waste system, recovering the rice lolles (the hard skins that cover every grain) that otherwise would be thrown away. There is no need to cut trees and, compared to natural wood, it is designed to last longer, request less maintenance and better resist atmospheric agents.
Product by recovering abundant refusal
Every year, in the United States, about 20 billion pounds of rice are produced. Each chicco has a rigid and light peel that is discarded. Unlike wheat straw, rice skins are rich in lignin, a natural substance that contributes to the resistance of the wood. This makes them suitable to be worked and transformed into solid materials.
The Acre manufacturer, Modern Mill, started collecting them and using them to create construction tables that imitate the appearance of the wood. The stated goal is twofold: to reduce the amount of agricultural waste and offer an alternative solution to deforestation. According to the company, each pallet of acre material avoids the cut of an entire acro of tropical forest. In 2022 44,000 were distributed.
In total, over 4,000 tons of rice peels have already been recovered, transformed into building products.
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Acre was used in post-fire reconstruction in California
In addition to the environmental aspects, Acre has been tested according to the California fire -fighting code and can also be installed in areas classified at medium or very high fire risk. After the Palisades fires, in 2025, the company provided material to reconstruct the houses of 20 families affected by the bonfires. A concrete gesture, in an emergency context.
Costs? Variables, but for external coatings there is talk of about 100 or 120 euros per square meter. It is not an economic product, but it is in line with many medium-high-end construction materials, especially considering durability and resistance.
In 2023, the company entered the list of “Innovative Companies Mosts” drawn up by the magazine Fast Companyfor its approach halfway between circular economy and building design.
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