Adaptavate has announced the kick-off of a £1 million Innovate UK Smart grant to optimise the cost and scalability of its carbon-negative alternative to plasterboard. The company will work in collaboration with the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC), a UK Research and Technology Organisation and subsidiary of the University of York, to establish an innovative carbon storing feedstock source and develop a cost-comparable, first-of-its-kind carbon-negative plasterboard alternative.
Adaptavate plans to expand on the environmental benefits of its technology, by utilising hard to treat post-consumer and industrial wastes, pre-treating them to turn them into carbon storing aggregates, with a high permeance, and then incorporating them in the product, permanently locking up the carbon into high performing wallboards.
The 24 month-long-project will also deliver key innovations to the industrial process for streamlined manufacturability and cost-competitiveness. In collaboration with BDC, they will develop a cost model, and specifications for a production facility, to ensure performance, manufacturability, and material suitability.
The work with BDC will also quantify the end-of-life benefits of the plasterboard’s alternative by investigating the use of construction and demolition waste both as a valuable soil additive and inputs to further production.
Jeff Ive, CTO at Adaptavate, says: “This project will facilitate the adoption of our technology globally by making it more cost-competitive, whilst improving its carbon removal potential. The adoption of our patented technology can play a significant role in the decarbonisation of the construction industry, given the globally ubiquitous nature of plasterboard, its application in internal linings and the opportunities available to innovate in non-load bearing structure.”
Dr Peter Hurst, Lead Technologist at the BDC, says: “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Adaptavate on this exciting project. BDC’s expertise in scaling up bio-based solutions, combined with its technology, positions us to make a real impact on the construction industry. By reducing the environmental footprint of buildings and promoting renewable materials, we’re taking a step towards a more sustainable future.”
