ArcGeo has been set up to provide capacity building for the manufacturing and construction sectors to transition to more ecological and circular methods. Our objectives fall within the following three key areas:

Support development of geosourced / biobased materials

ArcGeo facilitates the development and upscaling of geo-sourced, circular value chains for the built environment. As such, we work with manufacturers who supply products for the renovation / retrofit and construction sectors. In this case, geo-sourced refers to new uses of stone, clay, loam, earth and biobased materials. We aim to support the creation of new mineral-based material via biomineralisation. Bio-based materials include products derived from hemp, sisal, miscanthus, wood, bamboo, flax, mycelium or aquaculture etc.

By working with manufacturers, fabricators, subcontractors, and other stakeholders in the supply-chain and demand-side of value chains, we help facilitate a transition to renovation / construction methods that positively contribute to biodiversity, carbon and circularity goals as part of a regenerative bioeconomy.

By engaging with the R&D ecosystem, we enable innovation and roadmaps toward commercialisation and upscaling (for example via frameworks such as Horizon Europe). Our roadmaps include sketch visualisations of how components can be integrated within typical scenarios found within the renovation / retrofit and construction of buildings.

Clay and stone both have excellent circularity credentials, and can contribute to passive strategies for thermal comfort due to their thermal mass. Each have specific properties that can allow excellent performance: Clay helps to stabilise humidity inside buildings – avoiding extremes of humidity is good for the wellbeing of occupants and the building itself. Stone often has high compressive strength, which allows for optimal compression-only structures via the latest advances in digital modelling, or in combination with advances in steel manufacturing to create pre-tensioned / post-tensioned structural elements.

Enable biodiversity and wider ecosystem wellbeing

We support the production of bioproducts in a manner that supports wellbeing for people and the environment (for example via soil health and biodiversity). These processes can also support climate goals. We aim to align with the ethos of the SSbD framework (Safe and Sustainable by Design).

Production of biobased materials should not compete with land used for the production of food. Therefore urban agriculture or marginal lands in peri-urban or rural areas can support these goals. We will support our partners to develop value chains based on residues from agriculture. Likewise, we help develop strategies for providing a financial return for the removal and valorisation of invasive species. This can include using harvested invasive species to produce alternatives to plywood for use in buildings or furniture. The improvement of biodiversity and soil quality also has benefits for climate neutrality and the quality of biobased materials.

Capacity building for circularity in value chains

ArcGeo works with manufacturers, startups and municipalities to facilitate the development and upscaling of circular value chains. This includes upscaling the capacity of urban infrastructure to accommodate re-used materials and components derived from the deconstruction or adaptation of buildings. We work with our sister companies Rovesta and SciBau to achieve these aims, utilising strategies based on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

Geosourced and biobased materials tend to be particularly well-suited to circular re-use and re-processing, or re-integration into the natural environment. With geosourced and biobased materials, it is possible for production and processing facilities to be integrated within residential neighbourhoods, because such processes do not produce noise nor pollution in the way that conventional industries do. This allows our partners to upscale processing facilities in a manner that is inclusive and socially engaged in terms of local employment. The accessibility of these materials also provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop business models based on local resources.

Want to get involved? If so, you would be welcome to review our services or contact us to discuss.

We work with our umbrella organisation EstraHub to enable a more holistic approach to ecological initiatives.