CRIATERRA: Sustainable Innovation in Construction Technology Inspired by Nature
After five years of research and development and extensive sample testing, Criaterra offers eco-friendly, natural building materials that have structural strength and meet construction standards. The company's products are recognized both in Israel and internationally for their unique combination of natural material aesthetics and exceptional technical performance.
CRIATERRA, a unique and innovative technology company, develops green building products for construction from cement-free composite materials. The first product the company has introduced are tiles for interior walls. These tiles are produced at low temperatures using an innovative method that reduces approximately 90% of the energy required during the production stages. These products are the first of their kind: they have the structural strength of concrete, six times the thermal insulation of concrete, and are manufactured while creating a minimal ecological footprint.
"CRIATERRA was founded to meet the growing need for low-carbon construction materials, given the fact that the global construction industry is responsible for approximately 40% of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, a critical number that necessitates urgent action. The company's goal is to re-engineer the way construction materials are manufactured and introduce fully regenerative building products", notes Adital Ela, the company's founder & CEO. To reduce carbon footprints, several European countries have set carbon quotas for contractors that must not be exceeded. In the Netherlands, for instance, enforcement is particularly strict, and many contractors are struggling to work within these quotas. In addition, there are financial incentives for projects that earn green ratings globally. This creates a strong business case for Criaterra's products.
Our company's products provide an alternative to traditional, polluting construction materials—eco-friendly building products that are not fired during production and are made at low temperatures below 100°C. This is in complete contrast to ceramics or cement, which are produced through high-temperature firing processes of 1,200–1,600°C, releasing large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere".
The idea for the company began 25 years ago. Adital Ela, then a graduate of a master's program in Sustainable & Industrial design at the Design Academy in the Netherlands, went to India to research traditional ecological material production methods. During her tour, she sat down at a small coffee cart where she ordered a cup of real Indian chai. The cup was made from sun-dried clay. After the customers finished their drinks, the shop owners collected the cups and tossed them back into the ground.
"I remember how fascinated I was to see how drinking cups made of earth were returned to the earth, the most ecological and natural action possible. This experience sparked my designer's curiosity and the idea to establish a factory following the same ecological model was born, but incorporating advanced technological methods and groundbreaking science to achieve the strength and durability required to fully meet the needs of today's industrial world."
Inspired by this vision, CRIATERRA was founded as a technological and engineering research and development center with a team of material scientists, mechanical engineers, product designers, and environmental experts. This innovative technology was selected for funding from Israel Innovation Authority and the European Union's Horizon program.
Do your products allow contractors to receive green building points?
"Absolutely. The products are ecological and completely circular, meaning that at the end of their life cycle, they can be ground down and used to produce the next generation of products. Alternatively, they can be composted after grinding and blended into agricultural soil. The tiles' minimal environmental footprint, as reflected in their verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), awards green building points and meets compliance with the most advanced LEED standards. CRIATERRA's products are healthy for people and for the environment. They are also a desirable alternative for designers, as they can be used to design stunning interior spaces, thanks to the precise combination of 100% natural local materials and geometric shapes that allow for endless combinations and designs, just like in nature."
Towards the establishment of two new factories
CRIATERRA's pilot production plant, which is also the R&D center, is located in Holon and produces tiles for interior walls. The company has formed a European partnership to establish an industrial factory in Romania with a production capacity of one million square meters per year. In addition, the company is establishing a new plant in Israel with a capacity of 100,000 square meters per year. To date, the company has installed nearly 200 different projects, including projects in industrial buildings, commercial centers, hotels, and sports and leisure centers.
"We are currently setting up the world's first production lines for unfired interior tiles, and we're already planning for the next stage, which will be a production line for exterior tiles. In the future, we will also be able to produce construction blocks," says Adital.
What makes your products so unique?
"The uniqueness lies in bringing the quality of natural, breathing, living building materials to homes and public spaces. These ecological materials haven't undergone any firing, so they create a different and unique experience. It's like the difference between walking in a natural site, such as the Ramon Crater, compared to walking in a concrete construction. These are completely different experiences. Our products echo the natural geology of the earth and are designed in a wide range of shapes to allow for different geometric patterns. The shapes that we offer as part of our collection allow designers to create unique walls, adding an artistic dimension to the projects."
CRIATERRA tiles are 100% natural, regenerative, and recyclable. Most of the raw materials used by the company are local, and many of them are reclaimed materials from infrastructure works or quarries. Even the water-resistant coating developed by the company is made from a unique blend of plant-based oils and resins. This combination of materials and an ecological production method make the company's tiles breathable and healthy, contributing to air quality in indoor spaces and providing optimal climate comfort.
"Over the years, we completed various projects in Israel, Europe and Asia," says Adital. "For example, we installed tiles in projects by Tidhar, in the dining room of the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv, at the entrance hall of a Netanya Cinema center, in a Country Club in Tel Aviv, in lobbies of various residences and in a chain of health food stores. We also installed tiles in a wellness center in London, in an eco-hotel in the Netherlands, in a Dutch café, and in the innovation center of Sino Group, one of the largest construction companies in Hong Kong."
What is your next goal?
"Our next big leap will be transitioning to automated industrial production and achieving high production capacity. This is set to happen in the next two years with the completion of our new plants in Israel and Romania.""
CRIATERRA
Year established: 2015
Founder: Adital Ela.
Field of activity: Development and production of ecological building products using advanced technological methods.
Brand Philosophy: Using cutting-edge technology to create building products that are aligned with nature's own processes.
In collaboration with CRIATERRA
