Modern Mill Debuts at IBS

Modern Mill, manufacturer of new building material ACRE, made its debut at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, Feb. 8 – 10. ACRE, a sustainable alternative to real wood is made from upcycled rice hulls, is also one of six finalists for the Best of IBS 2022 in the Most Innovative Building Material.

ACRE, manufactured in Modern Mills’ zero-waste factory, is a wood substitute, offering all the beauty and warmth of wood without sacrificing performance or durability. Naturally resistant to shrinking and swelling common in most wood products, ACRE will not rot, crack or splinter — stands up to any climate — and resists pests and decay making it suitable for exterior applications. Easy to machine or thermoform, ACRE can be stained, painted or printed on.

“We are excited to showcase Modern Mill and ACRE at our first builders’ show,” says Kim Guimond, CMO of Modern Mill. “It’s an opportune time to introduce a new and alternative product like ACRE to builder and contractor and dealer and distributor professionals considering our current supply chain challenges and desire for environmentally sound materials. We are committed to educating the industry on the merits of using an alternative to wood in construction projects – particularly one that offers sustainability without compromise to any of woods warmth or beauty.”

ACRE products — sheets, trim boards, decking, siding, and millwork —upcycle rice hulls from rice fields in the U.S. From its roots in Mississippi to its locally sourced materials, the company has committed to creating a more sustainable future. ACRE sheet goods can be used to build cabinets, flooring, fencing, decking, furniture, windows, and doors and more.

The manufacturer also embraced the recent outcome of the COP26 (Conference of Parties) that states its commitment “…to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030,” and recently published a white paper, Nine Steps to Zero, detailing key factors — sustainability, appeal, substitution, features, zero-waste, recyclability, durability, viability, and supply chain — to consider when evaluating wood alternatives to reach a sustainable outcome.

“We’ve seen vast improvements in engineered biomaterials used for building,” says Rob Shugdinis, vice president of manufacturing and sustainability at Modern Mill. “Wood-alternative materials are often criticized for their obvious difference in look, feel, and workability compared to wood, but ACRE is nearly indistinguishable from real wood, where even painting and staining is possible. We like to say it’s just like wood, but better.”

ACRE is available throughout the U.S. through a network of independent dealers and distributors and can be found in major home improvement retailers.