EcoSys2Build: Prudêncio bets on the future of sustainable insulation solutions for construction
The construction sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. According to the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, in 2022 alone, buildings accounted for 37% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions and 34% of total energy consumption.
At Prudêncio, this scenario is seen as both a challenge and a responsibility.
It is within this context that the EcoSys2Build – Development of materials for sustainable insulation in construction systems – project emerges: a Research & Development initiative co-funded by the European Union, spanning 36 months and aiming to create thermal insulation solutions with a lower carbon footprint and increased circularity.
Insulating better, with less impact
Today, a large part of the thermal insulation systems used in construction is produced from fossil-based raw materials.
Even in efficient solutions such as those applied by Prudêncio, there is significant room for progress towards more circular, eco-friendly, and low-carbon construction. This reality represents an opportunity to develop a more innovative and sustainable solution that will have a major impact on the construction sector.
With EcoSys2Build, we want to go further:
- Develop foams and materials based on bio-based and recycled raw materials
- Add value to industrial waste and by-products, creating new circular resources
- Reduce environmental impact and dependence on non-renewable resources
- Create solutions with technical characteristics equivalent to or superior to current bio-based alternatives
A multidisciplinary partnership for real impact
This project is led by Prudêncio and developed in partnership with:
- CeNTI – Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart, Functional and Technical Materials
- Itecons – Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, University of Coimbra
- CIETI–LabRISE – Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Sensors of the Centre for Innovation in Industrial Engineering and Technology, at the Porto Polytechnic School of Engineering
- Painel 2000 – Inovação de Painéis, Lda. – construction sector partner company
This consortium brings together scientific knowledge, production experience, and practical application capacity within the sector. Each partner contributes specific expertise, from the research of materials and formulations to industrial implementation, prototype construction, and life cycle assessment of the solutions developed.
From the laboratory to real-world application
The project is structured into different phases:
- Development of bio-based insulation foams using recycled materials or industrial waste and by-products
- Development of single- or multi-layer solutions and assessment of the key properties required for thermal insulation performance
- Performance testing, prototype construction, and validation in real environments
Throughout all project phases, ecodesign practices will be integrated to ensure that each solution incorporates environmental criteria from the very beginning. This approach makes it possible to define strategies that reduce impacts across the entire life cycle while ensuring recyclability and value recovery after use.
Expected results
The mission of EcoSys2Build goes beyond the development of new materials. The project is guided by four major strategic objectives, aligned with the global challenges of the construction sector and with European environmental commitments:
OE1 – Reduce dependence on fossil-based raw materials
Currently, most insulation materials used in construction are derived from petroleum. EcoSys2Build seeks to replace these raw materials with sustainable alternatives, promoting a transition toward solutions with lower environmental impact.
OE2 – Valorise recycled materials
By integrating industrial waste and recycled materials into new insulation systems, the project promotes circularity in construction, reducing waste and closing the material life cycle. This approach contributes to a more sustainable circular economy.
OE3 – Reduce carbon footprint
The ambition is clear: to offer solutions with effective thermal performance but with a substantially lower carbon footprint.
OE4 – Ensure technical performance with sustainability
The products created must meet the real technical requirements of applications in roofs, façades and other building systems, without compromising the levels of thermal performance, strength and durability expected by today’s market.
Follow the project’s progress
We believe that energy efficiency and sustainability should not be incompatible with technical excellence. This project represents another step in Prudêncio’s commitment to innovation and the future of construction.
Learn more about the EcoSys2Build project here.
