PANELS MADE OF HEMP AND POPCORN

ecoHAB -PANELS MADE OF HEMP AND POPCORN

A bio-based, cost-effective building material for the future

Munich, October 2022 The mission of the start-up SMARTER HABITAT, founded in 2019, is clear: to bring a product onto the market that will make building more environmentally friendly, easier and at the same time cheaper in the future, thereby contributing to affordable housing all over the world create. After years of research and development, a “green” lightweight panel was created that consists of plant materials and agricultural waste and can be produced locally in large quantities in a cost-effective and energy-saving manner and can also be installed quickly and easily. The know-how for production is licensed to SMARTER HABITAT worldwide through a licensing process.

Supported by a network of experts from science, technology and industry, a building material has been developed that, as a bio-based alternative, will not only revolutionize the construction industry in the future, but also accelerate the paradigm shift towards responsible CO₂-neutral construction.

MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY “MADE IN GERMANY”

The sandwich panels consist of two basic components: natural fiber laminates as a top layer and a core material made from popped corn granules. They can be manufactured in a wide variety of dimensions and thicknesses. Natural Composite Laminates (NCL) consist of natural materials such as hemp, flax, sisal and other long-fiber agricultural waste, which are processed into a fleece felt and pressed under high pressure with a special resin.

FROM NATURAL FIBER TO ecoHAB- PANEL

ecoHAB - LIGHTWEIGHT PANELS – VERSATILE, NATURAL AND EASY TO INSTALL

The new laminates were developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, a research facility of the Fraunhofer Society in Halle/Saale and C3 Technologies GmbH, which is also based there, and lays the material and process engineering foundations for industrial production . By investing in C3 Technologies GmbH, this innovative knowledge can be transferred from the laboratory scale to the industrial production of composite panels. At the same time, the working group “Chemistry and Process Engineering of Composites” at the University of Göttingen, headed by Prof. Dr. Alireza Kharazipour has developed popcorn granules as a composite material for the laminates, which can be used in the future instead of the PU foam previously used for panels. Here, SMARTER HABITAT sees an outstanding opportunity to replace the raw material and energy-intensive products made from cement, gypsum or petroleum-based materials previously used in the construction industry with a cost-efficient, almost 100% natural product. For the commercial use of this ingenious filling material in ecoHAB – panels, SMARTER HABITAT has concluded a worldwide exclusive license agreement with the University of Göttingen.

THE ecoHAB - THE ADVANTAGES AT A GLANCE

‣ UNIVERSALLY USABLE FOR

  • load-bearing components for roofs, ceilings, external walls and foundations,
  • non-load-bearing applications such as partitions or dry walls,
  • Decorative applications such as building cladding, kitchen and sanitary elements,
  • Application in trade fair and shop construction, in mobile homes, tiny houses and much more.
  • and suitable for all types of surface treatment.

‣ ENVIRONMENTALLY AND CLIMATE FRIENDLY

  • circular building material made from plant-based raw materials or their waste,
  • No energy- and water-intensive construction using sand, cement, steel, gypsum, etc.
  • environmentally friendly production from regional/local raw materials,
  • optimal heat and sound insulation properties,
  • Durable, as it is waterproof, fire-resistant and resistant to mold and vermin.

‣ “BUILT-IN” ADDED VALUE

  • inexpensive building material,
  • reduced energy costs,
  • reduced assembly, transport and logistics costs,
  • Simple lightweight construction with faster and more efficient installation,
  • improved working conditions through reduced dirt and dust pollution,
  • high load capacity and outstanding stability,
  • Consistently high quality and good scalability through industrial production.

‣ AFFORDABLE HOUSING

  • Promotion of modern, climate-friendly and social-humanitarian residential architecture,
  • can be implemented quickly and easily globally through on-site production,
  • Use of regionally and locally available raw materials,
  • Creation of jobs in the construction sector,
  • Significant overall improvement in the living conditions of people at risk of housing shortages.
In contrast to conventional building materials, the innovative lightweight panels have an outstanding record in terms of raw material, material and production efficiency. In addition to the excellent physical properties, they also embody reusable properties , recyclable and compostable properties like hardly any other building material meet a holistic sustainability requirement. Overall, the composite panels from ecoHAB 8 of the 17 Sustainability Goals set by the United Nations and contribute to fundamentally changing construction in the future.

IN THE END A WIN FOR EVERYONE

The company creates the conditions for rapid market development through two business areas: In the SMARTER HABITAT pilot factory in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate will be the cornerstone for the production and sale of the ecoHAB panels placed in the German and European markets. At the same time, it will be the headquarters for research and development, technical service and will serve as a training center for national and international licensees and users. In parallel, the SMARTER HABITAT licensing company to strong sales construction companies in the franchise model master licenses. These not only include the ecoHAB technology, but also certified, highly automated, turnkey production lines, i.e. the entire know-how for the production and marketing of all products. In return, the licensees contractually undertake, on the one hand, to meet the capacity requirements for the agreed sales volume in their market and, on the other hand, to commit to the values-based corporate philosophy that is embodied in the “SMARTER HABITAT  Code of Ethical Conduct” is enshrined.
So that it can now move from the project planning phase into implementation, the company raises capital for its investments, for example in production facilities. The options for impact investors are direct investments as limited partners or through subordinated loans. In addition, small investors and people with a social and humanitarian orientation have the opportunity to get involved through crowdfunding approved by BAFIN. We invite everyone who wants to take part in the good cause and, in view of the increasing number of climate catastrophes in recent years, would like to contribute to a general change of course in environmentally polluting construction.