Slovak patent brings (r)evolution to the construction industry that reduces costs and emissions

After the success of an innovative Slovak technology that uses cigarette butts as an additive in asphalt, another Slovak company, Terratico, arrives with its patented solution in the field of sustainable building materials.

Lightweight eco-concrete with up to 45% plastic waste in the mix provides an innovative solution for the construction industry. Thanks to its unique properties, the eco-concrete can help reduce emissions, save costs and use materials more efficiently. Terratico's patented technology has already caught on not only in the European market, but also penetrated the US, where it is attracting interest from construction companies and investors.

Builders are changing the world through innovation

Terratico was founded by a father-and-son team with more than 25 years of experience in the building materials industry and their desire to solve the problem of excess plastics. The idea of using plastic recyclate in concrete has long been known in the construction industry, but the Nagys had a vision to use it as a replacement for crushed marble in terrazzo and concrete. After two years of research and development, the first version of the material was created, which the company has since continuously improved and which is still a unique global product.

The Nagys achieved their first commercial success in 2021, when they made 100 benches from shredded credit cards for a Slovak bank. Outside of Slovakia, the company has gained attention not only in Europe, but also in the US, where its material is planned to be used commercially by developers, architects and cities, especially in the form of urban furniture.

Patented technology that combines design and sustainability

Terratico has developed an eco-friendly alternative to concrete and terrazzo that is ideal for modern construction. Its innovative solution involves the cold incorporation of up to 45% plastic grit into the concrete mix, creating a material with unique properties. The process distributes the plastic particles evenly throughout the mix structure, they do not float to the surface and they adhere firmly to the concrete.

Other unique features compared to traditional concrete or terrazzo:

• 30% less weight reduces transport and handling costs on construction sites.

• Higher strength and excellent crack resistance ensure durability.

• Improved flexibility to allow for a variety of forms and aesthetics, including different colours, finishes and material adaptation to different architectural styles.

• Lower water absorption, which protects the material from frost damage and prolongs its service life.

Terratico products are an eco-friendly alternative for all types of paving, tiles, facades, planters and other outdoor or indoor furniture. In addition, the products are also certified for safe contact with food and drinking water, so they can also be actively used in catering or establishments with a higher requirement for cleanliness.

The creative use of materials by Terratico in the interior design of the KOTVA apartment, which has been nominated for the prestigious CE ZA AR 2024 award by the Slovak Chamber of Architects.

Source: Alan Prekop

"Our mixing method allows us to use any kind of plastic, including non-recyclable types. Thanks to our patented technology, we are able to process more than 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year, which we turn into environmentally friendly and highly aesthetic building materials. The plastic pandemic will never completely disappear, but the more Terratico is used around the world, the cleaner the planet we will leave for future generations," says Pavol Norulák, co-owner of Terratico.

Developers and emphasis on sustainability

Increasingly, construction companies are also having to apply specific measures to reduce their carbon footprint due to ESG regulations. This trend is generally on the rise and companies will have to invest more in renewable energy, green materials and the overall energy efficiency of buildings.

Terratico has a strong market presence in this area with materials that meet all global sustainability and ESG requirements. The demand for its products is constantly growing, as evidenced by specific requests for quotations and rising orders. However, due to capacity constraints, the company has not been able to meet this demand with its small-scale production.

For this reason, in early 2024, Terratico decided to seek capital to build a large-scale production facility. This will enable the company to produce large-format panels, tiles and facades, thus allowing them to adapt more flexibly to growing demand and consolidate its position on the market. In addition, this move allowed it to enter into a strategic partnership with Fabrics, a facade manufacturer that also carries out well-known projects in Bratislava. Terratico's innovative material will thus contribute to cost savings not only in the construction of the projects, but also in their subsequent maintenance.

Faster development and expansion thanks to private capital

Terratico is currently available in Europe and the US, and with a market share of just one per thousand, the company has ambitions to generate revenues of up to 150 million euros per year. The company is therefore working intensively not only on expansion plans, but above all on the start-up of large-scale production in order to ensure the fulfilment of orders that current capacity cannot cover.

Terratico is looking for investment in large-scale production through Crowdberry, the largest Slovak mass investment platform, through which anyone can become a direct investor and shareholder of Terratico. Crowdberry investors are joined as co-investors by the institutional investment fund Venture to Future Fund (VFF), and together they plan to invest over 3 million EUR in Terratico.

The first part of the investment has already closed and Crowdberry investors together with VFF provided Terratico with 600,000 EUR in capital. These funds will enable the company to accelerate the delivery of its latest key high-capacity industrial machines to the large-scale production facility, which will be the only one of its kind in the Central European region. The second part of the investment is still open to investors who can invest in the start-up of the company's large-scale production.

Installation of new machines in production.

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