When conversations turn to zero-waste living in Australia, Joost is rarely far from the centre. With a substantial global following on platforms like Instagram and a body of work that spans floristry, design, hospitality and construction, Bakker has built a reputation not just for ideas, but for delivering working, living prototypes of a different way forward. Register today for Joost Bakker to Headline iHemp NSW Webinar on Regenerative Building with Hemp.
Famously described by The New York Times as “the poster boy of zero-waste living,” his work has consistently challenged how we consume, build and inhabit space. From the early Greenhouse projects, zero-waste restaurants built from reclaimed materials, to fully integrated living systems, Bakker has long argued that waste is not inevitable, but a design flaw.
Now, his focus has shifted to where he believes real transformation begins: the home.
“If we really want to change the world, it’s in our homes,” Bakker says.
Webinar: Building the Future with Hemp
Can hemp help create the most sustainable home in Australia?
Date: Thursday, 23 April 2026
At this upcoming iHemp NSW webinar, Bakker will unpack his evolving vision for regenerative living, one where buildings are no longer passive structures, but active systems.
His recent work reimagines houses as:
- Food-producing environments
- Carbon-storing structures
- Soil-regenerating systems
In this model, buildings are not separate from nature—they are an extension of it.
Why Hemp Is Central to the Conversation
Bakker’s growing use of hemp as a building material across multiple projects, includes
- His own home
- His mother’s house
- An innovative build at Woodleigh School
- A high-profile sustainable build in the Tweed involving Zac Efron
Hemp’s performance characteristics align closely with Bakker’s systems-based approach:
- Carbon sequestration (locking carbon into the building fabric)
- Breathability and moisture regulation
- Strong thermal performance
Rather than simply reducing impact, hemp supports the shift toward net-positive buildings—structures that actively contribute to environmental repair.
From Zero Waste to Living Systems
Bakker’s philosophy extends beyond material choice. His work sits firmly in the realm of closed-loop design, where outputs become inputs and waste is designed out entirely.
This includes:
- Integrated food production within buildings
- Water capture and reuse systems
- Composting and nutrient cycling
- Urban agriculture embedded into architecture
His broader vision is clear: cities and suburbs functioning as productive, resilient ecosystems, not extractive ones.
Plantbord and the Next Layer of Integration
Webinar attendees may also receive an update on Plantbord, Bakker’s vertical growing system designed to embed food production directly into the built environment.
This signals a shift from sustainable building as a static outcome to something more dynamic, architecture that participates in daily life systems like food and ecology.
Why This Matters for Hemp Building
For those working in or exploring hemp construction, Bakker’s involvement represents a meaningful convergence:
- Mainstream visibility through high-profile projects
- Validation of hemp within broader regenerative design frameworks
- A shift from niche material to integrated system component
His approach aligns closely with what the Hemp Building Directory has been advocating, moving beyond individual materials toward whole-of-system thinking in the built environment.
A Timely Conversation
This webinar offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of Australia’s most influential sustainability thinkers as he connects:
- Hemp
- Housing
- Food systems
- Regenerative design
For an industry focused on scaling natural building solutions, the question is no longer if hemp has a role to play—but how central it becomes in shaping the homes of the future.
Disclaimer
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This site is not intended to provide and does not constitute building advice, or other professional advice.
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