​An overdue introduction to Adaptavate

“We have the right low-carbon solutions that can help the construction industry at scale, anywhere in the world.”Thomas Robinson, Managing Director, Adaptavate

Tom and his team at Adaptavate are rethinking and re-designing how building materials are made, designing low-carbon materials for healthy buildings.

We were introduced to Adaptavate in 2017 when our Glyn met them at future build. After studying for his MSc in Sustainable Architecture, Tom Robinson (founder) faced the challenge of finding an alternative to plasterboard. His experience working on building sites and seeing first-hand the sheer volume of plasterboard waste generated daily destined for landfill made him determined to design a mainstream alternative. He talked extensively about their research into the new product, ‘Breathaboard,’ a new breathable plasterboard. A natural, high-performance alternative to modern-day plasterboard which is quite revolutionary and low carbon for the construction sector. Although that product is still being developed, it got our attention, and we instantly wanted to know more about other products the team was creating.

Why is plasterboard so bad for the environment?

Plasterboard was developed in the early 20^th century but didn’t take off until after World War II, in the 60s and 70s; it is quick and efficient to install. Plasterboard is one of the greatest versatile materials in modern-day construction, but it does come with an environmental cost. The significant impacts associated with plasterboard result from the production process and disposal. Production and calcination of gypsum, the feedstock of plasterboard and finishing plaster, are energy and heat intensive. In addition, the longevity of gypsum feedstocks is far from secure.

Due to over-ordering, incorrect specifications, damaged plasterboards, and off-cuts, plasterboard waste is making its way to landfill sites every day. More than 1,300,000 tonnes of plasterboard are disposed to landfill every year. That’s the equivalent weight of 100,000 London buses!

“We live in a period of increasing uncertainty, and the future landscape is unclear. However, this provides a massive opportunity for businesses and ideas to completely re-think the conventional way materials are made. We must reduce the colossal amounts of waste going to landfills, reduce energy demand in production, add to productivity in the UK to create jobs and exportable products and we can additionally bring health benefits to consumers. This is all key to ensuring long-term sustainable growth. We must do this simultaneously by shifting to a circular economy with a lighter footprint on our fragile ecosystems. I believe it is now, more than ever, time for businesses to step up and find new ways of doing good, alongside doing well”. (Tom Robinson, founder)

But to recap, Breathaboard is a revolutionary low-carbon innovation.

Adaptavate has been busy creating an alternative to modern-day plasterboard. They have been developing Breathaboard for the last few years, working hard to validate and test the product to ensure they achieve their goals. Construction industry professionals have recently recognised it as a revolutionary innovation that could help address the construction sector's waste, resource security, and health.

Why Choose Breathaboard

1. Lower Fuel Bills: The Breathaboard has insulating properties.

2. Naturally Fire-retardant

3.100% sustainable and compostable!

4. It's anti-mould - it passively regulates moisture.

5. Breathaboard is a high-performance biocomposite alternative to plasterboard that uses plant material for 60-70% of its volume.

Adaptavate is building a pilot line to manufacture carbon-negative materials at a large scale. They are seeking pilot projects to use this easy-to-specify product. Please do get in touch if you have a suitable project in 2023! Read more here.

Rest assured, Breathaboard will be coming to a wall near you soon, but in the meantime, if you are looking for healthy, low-carbon building products, read on!

Introducing Breathaplasta Universal. A multi-purpose breathable plaster. Its quick setting, the plant-powered, breathable, and bio-based formulation, has proven to reduce dampness and mould and is explicitly designed to regulate moisture created by people living and working in the home or office. The formulation allows it to absorb moisture from the air into its porous structure when high humidity levels and then release it back into the room when humidity levels fall. Lastly, the Breathaplasta has insulating properties that help increase the surface temperature of the wall preventing condensation from occurring. It is a super plaster in every way! This product has proven very popular amongst tradespeople and our regular customers.

“We were drawn to adaptavate because the products are low carbon, recycled, and recyclable and have the potential to impact staff health and wellbeing positively. The products were easy to use, and we achieved a good, professional level of finish. We will consider it as a viable plasterboard alternative on future projects”. Tom Lacey (director, Barr Gazetas Architects)

With over ten years of experience in plastering, David has worked with various plastering products, from spray application plasters and renders to traditional lime putty. When embarking on a new sustainable office space, the customer had specified using adaptavate as they liked the sustainable credentials of breathaplasta; David found himself using the product for the first time; here’s what he had to say about it.

“The project was working to a tight time frame as it was opening for business the following week. I was concerned about setting and drying times for a lime-based product, but the plaster sets in just one hour, so it was easy to meet the quick turnaround, especially with a single coat. I'd recommend it to others, I found it quick and easy to pick up, and it took just one or two bags to get a feel for it—David (Rome plastering services) 2018.

The clever people at Adaptavate then created a product called Adaptavate Thermal, an insulating plaster for solid walls. It's the fastest setting time for any plaster on the market, around 2 hours. You can apply Adaptavate Thermal to any solid masonry external facing wall; a 50mm coat can improve the U value of any standard solid wall by 60%! You can achieve a warm and healthy house at a very competitive price when using Adaptavate Thermal.

The final product in the Adaptavate family is a finishing product called Breathaplasta Smooth. It offers a super smooth finish; the typical application is 3mm thick in two trowel passes. Only 60 minutes is needed for breathaplasta smooth to set, saving time on installation. It’s straightforward to use, and like all Adaptavate products; it’s proven to combat dampness and mould. An exceptional product that can be used in the home or the office space, offering a solid professional finish.

5 Reasons why we love Breathaplasta.

The ideal companion product for wood wool and wood fibre boards, Breathaplasta is an excellent alternative to cement and gypsum plasters. This high-performance, environmentally friendly, easy-to-use bio-composite product helps regulate moisture, improves insulation, and is so fast setting, that you can lime plaster your boards in just one day.

We here at Celtic Sustainables have a clear focus on products that are better for you, your home, and the planet, below are just some reasons why we love Adaptavate:

1. Twice the thermal performance of regular plaster

2. Easy to use, same application and timings as conventional plasters.

3. Vapour Permeable (Breathable) material

4. High alkalinity level reduces mould problems.

5. in 2023, Adaptavate was shortlisted for FIS Sustainability Innovation Award and was selected as the product of the month by ASBPin 2016

The team is ever-growing, and the company is going from strength to strength. Building a change-making team, thinking differently about construction and sustainable material flows. In 2020 adaptavate secured £500,000 in government funding to continue developing future biomaterials, and in March 2022, Adaptavate raised over £2m to scale the end of carbon-negative building materials. Watch this space; you never know what will happen next for this exciting company based in Bristol.

inish the look with breathable matt paint; browse our lime plaster-specific paint range below.

1. Earthborn’s breathable Claypaint is a luxurious, ultra-matt finish for interior walls and ceilings. Made using a unique eco-friendly clay recipe, available in 72 colours. (Mixed in the house)

2. Graphenstone is the most advanced solution for ecological and natural paints and coatings with graphene technology. Available in 96 colours (Mixed in house)

3. KEIM Innostar is an ultra-opaque, high-yield, ready-to-use sol-silicate paint for interior use. The one-coat paint is healthy for the home, without added preservatives and combines maximum covering power with high yield. Available in over 300 colours (mixed by supplier)

Other useful links.

We talked before about Adaptavate on our blog when Owen visited. We tested the products on our demonstration boards in the warehouse. You'll be able to read the full article here.

If you would like more lime products, shop here.

• For more information on eco loft conversion ideas and inspiration, read our article here.
• Read our helpful “Why Build with Lime?” Article.
• Lime Products Guides - Using lime, methods, lime products, and finishes. Read our helpful guides.