稻殼也能蓋房子！

當人們想到稻米時，大多會聯想到熱騰騰的白飯，而非房屋外牆。然而，美國密西西比州公司 Modern Mill 正以創新技術改變這種想像——他們成功將稻殼轉化為一種名為 ACRE 的永續建材，兼具木材質感與防水、防蟲特性，成為建築與設計領域的新寵。

When people think of rice, they rarely imagine it cladding their homes. But Modern Mill, a Mississippi-based company, is transforming that perception - by turning rice husks into a durable, water-resistant, wood-like material called ACRE that’s redefining sustainable construction.

從農業廢棄物到高質感建材 美國每年出口約 200億磅稻米，主要產自密西西比三角洲地區。稻穀在碾製過程中會留下大量稻殼，這些過去多被棄置掩埋，如今卻成為 Modern Mill 的珍貴原料。公司將稻殼粉碎後加工，製成堅韌、可塑性高的複合材料，實現了「從廢料到資源」的循環應用。

From Waste to Resource The U.S. exports around 20 billion pounds of rice each year, much of it grown in the Mississippi Delta region. That leaves behind mountains of discarded rice husks - the tough outer shell stripped from each grain. Rather than sending them to landfills, Modern Mill grinds and processes them into a versatile, eco-friendly composite material.

Modern Mill 銷售總監 Chandler Delinks 表示，稻殼本身就是一種天然防護層，能抵禦水氣、紫外線與黴菌，因此轉化後的 ACRE 材料具備極高耐候性。與傳統木材相比，它更容易施工、不產生刺激性氣味或有害粉塵，且能以水性染料上色呈現如紅木般的高級質感。

According to Chandler Delinks, the company’s Sales Director, the rice husk is a natural protector: “It shields the rice from water, sunlight, pests, and mold - so it’s an incredibly resilient fiber. When we turn it into ACRE, we’re preserving those qualities.”

兼具耐候與防災性能 ACRE 不僅防水、防蟲，還獲得 加州野火地區建材認證（WUI Compliance），並通過 佛羅里達州抗強風衝擊測試，適用於沿海與高濕環境。Delinks 強調：「這種材料不會腐爛、不會裂開、不會吸水，即使長期接觸泥土或海水也不受影響。」

Beyond sustainability, ACRE is winning over builders and homeowners for its practicality. It’s lightweight, easy to cut, doesn’t produce harmful dust, and accepts water-based stains that mimic the look of fine hardwoods such as mahogany.

Built for All Climates - and Disasters ACRE’s resistance to water, rot, and insects makes it ideal for humid or coastal environments. It’s also certified for California’s Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) - one of the few materials approved for use in wildfire-prone zones - and meets Florida’s high-wind impact standards, ensuring resilience against hurricanes.

此外，ACRE 的原料不吸引白蟻，也不滋生黴菌與真菌，使其在氣候極端、濕熱或乾旱的環境下都能維持穩定結構。這項技術特別受到沿海城市與野火高風險地區建築師的關注。

Delinks explained, “It won’t crack, rot, or splinter. It can sit in the ground or by the sea, and it performs the same. It’s not food for termites or fungi.”

永續與普及並行的建築新方向 許多永續建材因成本高昂而難以普及，但 Modern Mill 強調「永續必須平易近人」。目前 ACRE 已與 Chipotle、Heineken 等品牌合作，應用於商業與住宅空間。Delinks 認為，ACRE 同時解決了兩大問題——減少農業廢棄物與創造耐用建材，實現真正的「雙贏」。

Sustainability Meets Accessibility While sustainable materials often carry a price premium, Modern Mill is determined to make eco-friendly options affordable and accessible. The company has already partnered with major brands such as Chipotle and Heineken, expanding ACRE into both residential and commercial construction markets.

他笑說：「當人們第一次看到這個材料時，會驚訝於它的外觀與觸感，然後發現它能永續使用、兼具強度與美觀，這正是我們最期待的反應。」

“What excites people,” Delinks said, “is realizing this material looks great, lasts forever, and is made from something that used to be thrown away. It’s the ultimate win-win.”

這項創新不僅改寫建材產業，也示範了如何在永續與實用之間找到平衡，讓「吃剩的稻殼」成為未來建築的基石。

With its blend of durability, beauty, and sustainability, Modern Mill’s rice-husk innovation shows that even the most overlooked agricultural byproducts can become the foundation of a cleaner, smarter built environment.