Is shipping container architecture really sustainable?
Ultimately, removing containers from the circular economy by retrofitting them into usable spaces could put a strain on the industry and result in the need to use more iron ore, causing even more harm to the environment. Even as the tiny house movement continues to gain popularity and shipping containers are beloved both for their aesthetic appeal and supposed sustainability, it’s worth asking if they’re the right material for this purpose.While shipping containers do generally keep project costs down owing to labor hours saved, the fit-out of their interiors can add between $20,000 and $150,000 to each construction. Materials such as spray-on foam insulation used in making a container design habitable are rarely among the market’s most sustainable options. The lead-based paint coating typically applied for their seafaring protection against salt water only adds to the toxins produced while the insulation is applied. University of Edinburgh professor Richard J. Williams said their prevalence was emblematic of “hipster modernity” in a popular 2019 essay, adding “they’re great for doing what they were designed to do, which is transporting stuff. A simple technology, they have helped facilitate global trade like no other. But they’re designed for things, not people." Nevertheless, as FastCompany reported, the market for container homes is expected to grow to $67.96 billion by the year 2026....
Ultimately, removing containers from the circular economy by retrofitting them into usable spaces could put a strain on the industry and result in the need to use more iron ore, causing even more harm to the environment. Even as the tiny house movement continues to gain popularity and shipping containers are beloved both for their aesthetic appeal and supposed sustainability, it’s worth asking if they’re the right material for this purpose.
While shipping containers do generally keep project costs down owing to labor hours saved, the fit-out of their interiors can add between $20,000 and $150,000 to each construction. Materials such as spray-on foam insulation used in making a container design habitable are rarely among the market’s most sustainable options. The lead-based paint coating typically applied for their seafaring protection against salt water only adds to the toxins produced while the insulation is applied.
University of Edinburgh professor Richard J. Williams said their prevalence was emblematic of “hipster modernity” in a popular 2019 essay, adding “they’re great for doing what they were designed to do, which is transporting stuff. A simple technology, they have helped facilitate global trade like no other. But they’re designed for things, not people."
Nevertheless, as FastCompany reported, the market for container homes is expected to grow to $67.96 billion by the year 2026.
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