Modern Mill
Tree-free building materials made from upcycled rice hulls.
Photo credit: Modern Mill
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Modern Mill is a building materials company and the creator of ACRE, a nonstructural wood alternative made from upcycled rice hulls and a polymer-based composite. Founded in 2018 and based in Fernwood, Mississippi, the company produces siding, trim, decking, porch boards, sheets, millwork, and specialty products for residential and commercial projects.
ACRE is designed to provide the appearance and workability of wood with greater resistance to water, weather, pests, rot, and splintering. Builders can cut, drill, nail, paint, and stain the material using familiar woodworking tools.
Key benefits
Tree-free wood alternative
ACRE provides the appearance and workability of wood for nonstructural applications while reducing demand for harvested lumber.
Upcycled agricultural material
Modern Mill turns locally sourced rice hulls into building products instead of allowing the agricultural byproduct to go to waste.
Familiar jobsite workability
Builders can cut, drill, nail, paint, and stain ACRE using familiar woodworking tools and techniques.
Durable and low maintenance
The company says ACRE resists water, weather, pests, rot, and splintering across siding, decking, trim, and millwork applications.
Circular manufacturing
Modern Mill uses zero-waste production, closed-loop water systems, and a reclamation program for eligible ACRE scraps and shavings.
Modern Mill combines agricultural waste upcycling with sustainable material innovation. The company sources rice hulls, a byproduct of rice production, and uses them to manufacture ACRE products that can replace wood in nonstructural building applications. This approach diverts agricultural waste while potentially reducing demand for harvested lumber.
Modern Mill says its Mississippi facility uses zero-waste manufacturing and a closed-loop water system. Its reclamation program also allows eligible ACRE scraps and shavings to be returned and incorporated into new products.
ACRE is a composite rather than a fully bio-based material. Its third-party-verified Environmental Product Declaration lists rice husk alongside PVC, calcium carbonate, regrind, and other inputs. The declaration covers production through the factory gate and does not assess installation, product use, or end-of-life impacts. modern-mill.com
Company-reported figures as of September 2026:
- 20.5 million pounds of rice hulls diverted from landfill
- An estimated 69,000 acres of tropical rainforest preserved
- An estimated 101,000 acres of pine forests and softwoods preserved
- Zero-waste production at its Fernwood manufacturing facility
- Closed-loop water systems used in production
Frequently asked questions
- What does Modern Mill do?
- Modern Mill is a building materials company and the creator of ACRE, a nonstructural wood alternative made from upcycled rice hulls and a polymer-based composite. Founded in 2018 and based in Fernwood, Mississippi, the company produces siding, trim, decking, porch boards, sheets, millwork, and specialty products for residential and commercial projects. ACRE is designed to provide the appearanc…
- Where is Modern Mill based?
- Modern Mill is based in Mississippi, United States.
- What sector does Modern Mill operate in?
- Modern Mill operates in the Built Environment sector.
At a glance
Locations
- Founded
- 2018
