India, June 5 -- India's growing cities continue to depend heavily on timber and plywood, increasing pressure on forests and natural resources.

Bio-composites made from coconut coir fibre and wood residues offer a possible alternative to conventional building materials.

Such materials can reduce timber use, support circular manufacturing and create value from agricultural and industrial byproducts.

Wider adoption will depend on awareness, policy support and decisions by architects, developers, governments and consumers.

On this World Environment Day, I find myself returning to a question that has troubled me for years: can we continue building our cities without eroding the forests that sustain us?

Across India and the world, the war...