InventWood Unveils Wood Stronger Than Steel

In a major leap for sustainable materials science, InventWood, a University of Maryland spinout, has announced plans to mass-produce a revolutionary wood product stronger than steel. This innovation promises to disrupt traditional construction materials while offering a greener, lighter, and more affordable alternative to steel and concrete.

As climate-conscious architecture gains momentum, InventWood’s breakthrough has the potential to redefine how buildings, furniture, and even vehicles are made. Here’s a closer look at this game-changing development and what it means for the future of construction.

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What Is InventWood and What Did They Create?

InventWood is a materials startup that has developed a product called MettleWood—a specially treated natural wood that is 12 times stronger than natural wood and stronger than steel by weight.

This strength is achieved by removing lignin (a natural glue in wood that makes it rigid) and compressing the wood at high temperatures, making the cellulose fibers bond tightly together. The resulting product is dense, durable, and extremely strong—yet still lightweight and biodegradable.

Advantages Over Traditional Materials

Strength-to-Weight Ratio: MettleWood offers a better strength-to-weight ratio than most metals.

Sustainability: It’s renewable, biodegradable, and uses less energy to produce than steel or concrete.

Cost-Effective: Production is cheaper and less resource-intensive.

Carbon Impact: Unlike steel, which emits CO₂ during production, MettleWood stores carbon—making it carbon-negative.

InventWood CEO Josh Cable stated in an interview, “Our product isn’t just stronger—it’s more sustainable. It can replace metal in many applications while reducing the carbon footprint.”

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Applications in Architecture and Beyond

The potential uses for MettleWood are wide-ranging:

Construction: Structural beams, support panels, and modular components.

Furniture: Stronger, thinner, and lighter tables, chairs, and cabinetry.

Automotive: Lightweight frames and interiors that reduce vehicle emissions.

Military and Aerospace: Lightweight yet impact-resistant materials for defense and transport.

In a trial project, InventWood collaborated with a housing startup to build a 3-bedroom prototype home using MettleWood supports, reducing the building’s weight by 30% while improving thermal insulation.

Comparisons With Competing Technologies

Other companies like LignaTech and Carbicrete have explored sustainable construction materials, but none have achieved InventWood’s performance-to-cost ratio.

FeatureMettleWoodTraditional SteelEngineered WoodStrength-to-WeightSuperiorHighMediumCarbon EmissionsNegativeHighMediumRecyclabilityBiodegradablePartially recyclableVariableManufacturing CostLowHighMedium

Backed by Big Investment

InventWood recently secured $20 million in Series A funding, led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures (chaired by Bill Gates), and is finalizing a facility in Baltimore that will scale up production to commercial levels by late 2025.

Conclusion

InventWood’s announcement to begin mass production of wood stronger than steel represents a significant milestone in materials innovation. As the world seeks cleaner, greener alternatives to heavy industry, MettleWood could become a foundational element in everything from eco-housing to next-gen transportation.

With its combination of strength, sustainability, and scalability, InventWood’s material may not just replace steel—it may outshine it.