__________________________________________________________________
“ As the climate crisis has worsened , more and more people have realised the need for environmentally friendly buildings , and our methods have become an important concept across the construction industry . However , our research and development activities never stop , as there are constant developments that we must incorporate to continuously evolve how we build with the environment in mind .”
Rethinking materials
Having witnessed the business go through several iterations , Oliver offers his insight into how demand for sustainable building solutions has evolved in recent years . “ The 1980s was the start of the green movement in Germany , with people changing their lifestyles and thinking more consciously about the food we eat and the energy we use ,” he shares . “ However , these changes take decades to come to fruition , especially the global energy transition , with Germany turning off its last nuclear power station just last year .
“ During this long process of transforming energy provisions , society has shifted to adopt more sustainable solutions in all aspects of life . In terms of construction and our decision to prioritise chemical-free materials , we stopped using timber that had been treated with chemical preservatives . While we use gloves and goggles for health and safety measures , our intention is to provide materials that can be handled on construction sites without the need for extensive protection measures like masks .
“ Perhaps the biggest challenge associated with eliminating chemicals is what to do if the market doesn ’ t offer natural materials ,” Oliver reflects . “ The market was , and still is , largely dominated by artificial or composite materials , so we decided to develop our own products . It
56