What Ecological Building Systems does

Ecological Building Systems UK Ltd is a privately held distributor and technical specialist of ecological, low-carbon building materials serving the British and Irish construction sectors. Founded in 2007 as a sister company to the Irish family-owned MacCann & Byrne Ltd (established 1906, Athboy, Co. Meath), the company operates from Carlisle, Cumbria and runs a regional base in Athboy, Ireland. It distributes a multi-brand portfolio of natural insulation, airtightness, windtightness, structural board, and lime/cork-based plaster products from 16 European and UK manufacturers including Pro Clima, Gutex, Diasen, Elka, Gramitherm, IndiNature, Wellhöfer, Optime, Cewood and Redstone, combined with its own branded system solutions (Passive EcoWall®, Passive EcoRoof, Retro EcoWall®, Retro EcoRoof, Retro EcoFloor™, Retro EcoLoft, Retro EcoWall A1™). The product range is built around breathable, vapour-open, bio-based construction systems carrying third-party certifications such as Passive House Institute Component, BBA, NSAI, European Keymark, Natureplus, PEFC and ISO 16000.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales distributed via three channels: builders' merchants and authorised Pro Clima stockists (the primary channel), a certified Diasen installer network for lime/cork plasters, and direct e-commerce through the company's website with publicly listed GBP and EUR pricing. Go-to-market is sales-led and technically driven, anchored by a team of certified European Passivhaus Consultants and architectural technologists who deliver technical support, on-site visits, weekly online CPDs, free merchant staff training, and a nationwide Ireland roadshow ('Low Carbon Solutions in Action') hosted at the Energy Build Centre of Excellence. Customer segments span architects and Passive House specifiers, builders and contractors, builders' merchants, self-builders and renovators, social housing providers, and timber frame/MMC manufacturers; no single anchor customer or contract concentration is disclosed. The company has 51-100 employees, is family-owned, has no disclosed funding rounds or M&A activity, and is a member of 11 industry associations across the UK and Ireland.

Name

Ecological Building Systems

Legal name

Ecological Building Systems UK Ltd

Website

https://ecologicalbuildingsystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ecological Building Systems distributes ecological insulation, airtightness, and natural building materials from 16 European brands across Great Britain and Ireland, backed by certified Passivhaus technical support, CPD training, and its own branded retrofit and passive-house system solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Building Insulation and Airtightness Products

NAICS

Roofing, Siding, and Insulation Material Merchant Wholesalers (42333), Home Centers (444110)

SIC

Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200), Wholesale-Lumber, Plywood, Millwork & Wood Panels (5031)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Exterior Insulation & Weatherproofing (House Wrap, Air/Water Barriers) (HSAPAKAK), Drywall, Plastering & Insulation (EDAOAAAE)

Keywords

• Natural insulation products
• Airtightness membranes systems
• Passive house materials
• Building retrofit solutions
• Ecological construction materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlisle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Insulation & Materials: Revenue from sale of natural and ecological insulation materials including wood fibre boards (Gutex), flexible insulation mats, blown-in insulation, acoustic insulation, plaster and screed, and structural boards. Sold via builders' merchants, stockists, and direct via the company's e-commerce website.
2. Product Sales - Airtight & Windtight Systems: Revenue from sale of airtightness tapes, membranes, sealants, attic hatches, downlighter housings, pipe and cable sealing products, and accessories. Primarily Pro Clima branded products distributed through authorised stockists.
3. Training & CPD Services: Revenue from Continued Professional Development (CPD) training sessions. Events such as the Low Carbon Solutions in Action roadshow require a €25 booking deposit (fully refundable upon completion with CPD certificate). Weekly online CPDs on airtightness and moisture management are offered free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ecological Building Systems distributes a comprehensive portfolio of ecological and natural building materials across the UK and Ireland, including wood fibre insulation boards, flexible and blown-in natural insulations, airtightness membranes and tapes, lime-based insulating plasters, structural boards, and airtight accessories. The company operates as an authorised distributor for leading European manufacturers such as Pro Clima, Gutex, Diasen, Gramitherm, Elka, and Wellhöfer, while also offering proprietary branded system solutions (Passive EcoWall, Passive EcoRoof, Retro EcoWall/Floor/Roof/Loft/A1) for newbuild passive house and retrofit projects. Sales are supported by a technical sales team, certified Passivhaus consultants, free CPD training, certified installer programmes, and direct e-commerce via the company website.

Product overview

Ecological Building Systems distributes a comprehensive portfolio of ecological building materials across multiple product categories. The offering is organized around airtightness and windtightness systems (including Pro Clima tapes, membranes, and sealants), natural insulation materials (wood fibre boards, flexible insulation, blown-in insulation from brands like Gutex, Gramitherm, and IndiNature), structural boards (Elka Strong Board), and insulated plasters and screeds (Diasen Diathonite range). The company also offers branded system solutions including Passive EcoWall® and Passive EcoRoof for newbuild passive house applications, and the Retro EcoWall/Floor/Roof/Loft/A1™ range for renovation and retrofit projects. Their products are sourced from manufacturer brands including Pro Clima, Gutex, Diasen, Elka, Gramitherm, Cewood, Wellhöfer, Optime, Warmotech, and IndiNature, with technical support and training services provided alongside product sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pro Clima Tescon Vana Multi-purpose airtight adhesive tape for sealing joints and overlaps in airtightness systems, priced from £26.50 per roll.
• Pro Clima Tescon No.1 Flexible multi-purpose airtight adhesive tape for a variety of sealing applications in airtightness systems.
• Pro Clima Tescon Profil Airtight adhesive tape designed for use on corners and junctions.
• Pro Clima Tescon Rapic Multi-purpose airtight adhesive tape with no release strip for easier application.
• Pro Clima Tescon Profect Pre-folded airtight adhesive tape for corners and junctions, priced from £46.10 per roll.
• Pro Clima Contega Solido SL Airtight masonry to membrane, door and window sealing tape.
• Pro Clima Extoseal Encors Weatherproof and watertight sealing tape for windows and doors.
• Pro Clima Contega Fiden Exo Expanding sealing tape for connections to windows and door frames.
• Pro Clima DA Robust airtight internal vapour control membrane and air barrier with weather resistant properties, can be exposed externally for up to 3 months during construction.
• Pro Clima Solitex Plus Reinforced windtight breathable roofing membrane for pitched roofs and suspended timber floors, priced from £93.30 per roll.
• Pro Clima Intello Plus Airtight intelligent vapour control membrane that reacts to humidity, allowing up to 100 times more moisture vapour to pass through when humidity is high. Passive House Institute certified with best-ever results.
• Gutex Multiplex Top High-performance breathable insulated sarking board for pitched roofs and timber frame walls with tongue and groove profile, provides up to 90 minutes fire protection.
• Gutex Ultratherm Weather and rain-proof insulated sarking board providing thermal insulation and robust outer layer for timber frame or Cross Laminated Timber walls and roofs. Special order, full pallet quantities only.
• Gutex Thermoflex High performance flexible wood fibre insulation mat suitable for timber frame walls, roofs and floors, providing thermal insulation and moisture regulation.
• Gutex Thermofibre Low embodied carbon fibrous insulation material that can be blown-in to enclosed spaces in timber frame wall, roof, ceiling and floor structures. Requires professional installation by trained tradespersons.
• Elka Strong Board Breathable high performance structural P5 racking board suitable for use in humid conditions, up to five times more breathable than OSB3. PEFC certified.
• Diasen Diathonite Evolution Lime, cork and clay based insulating plaster for thermal insulation and moisture management, priced from £43.00.
• Diasen Diathonite Thermactive .037 Lime and cork based insulating plaster for high-performance thermal insulation, priced from £55.00.
• Diasen Diathonite Deumix Plus Lime, cork and clay based moisture managing plaster and salt inhibitor.
• Diasen Diathonite Thermostep .047 Screed Fibre reinforced insulating lime and cork based floor screed.
• Gramitherm Sustainable Grass Insulation Natural insulation made from grass and recycled jute fibres using a carbon negative production process, priced from £16.20 per unit.
• Optime Airtight Downlight Protector Airtight protective housing for downlights and speakers to maintain airtightness integrity, priced from £8.60 per unit.
• Wellhöfer GutHolz Attic Hatch Airtight insulated attic hatch with wooden ladder, priced from £683.00 per unit.
• Redstone Clima Redboard Pro (Calsitherm) Interior calcium silicate thermal insulation, mould prevention and moisture control board, priced from £36.60 per board.
• Warmotech Phonotherm (RG550) Structural insulation board for window, door and foundation junctions, priced from £21.60 per unit.
• Cewood Wood Wool Board Thermal and sound insulating panel for acoustic and thermal applications.
• Pro Clima Tescon Sprimer Spray-on primer used before applying airtight tapes to prepare and stabilise absorbent surfaces.
• Passive EcoWall® Complete passive house wall system for newbuild applications combining airtightness, insulation and moisture management. Proprietary branded system combining third-party products with company technical specifications.
• Passive EcoRoof Complete passive house roof system for high-performance thermal envelope. Proprietary branded system combining third-party products with company technical specifications.
• Retro EcoWall® Proprietary retrofit wall insulation system for heat and cold protection in existing buildings.
• Retro EcoRoof Proprietary retrofit roof insulation system for improving thermal performance of existing roofs.
• Retro EcoFloor™ Proprietary retrofit floor insulation system for thermal upgrading of existing floors.
• Retro EcoLoft Proprietary retrofit loft insulation system for improving thermal performance of loft spaces.
• Retro EcoWall A1™ Proprietary non-combustible (A1 fire rating) retrofit wall insulation system for heat and cold prevention in existing buildings.
• Low Carbon Solutions in Action CPD Roadshow Nationwide roadshow event across Ireland hosted at training centres such as Energy Build Centre of Excellence in Sligo. Provides 3 structured CPD points and includes hands-on workshops with natural fibre insulations, timber frame models, and air permeability exercises. Requires a €25 booking deposit (fully refundable upon completion).
• Online CPD Training (Airtightness and Moisture Vapour Management) Weekly interactive online CPD sessions covering airtightness and moisture vapour management, offered free of charge to architects, specifiers, and construction professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pro Clima Intello Plus has the best-ever results from Passive House Institute testing among intelligent vapour control membranes.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GutexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1932Gutex (established 1932) is a German manufacturer of wood fibre insulation boards made from recycled wood chips sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Black Forest region. Ecological Building Systems distributes the full Gutex range including Multiplex Top (insulating sarking board), Ultratherm (weatherproof sarking), Thermoflex (flexible insulation mat), and Thermofibre (blown-in insulation). Gutex products are carbon negative in production, store carbon in buildings, and are certified to EN standards with EPDs and European Keymark certification.
• Pro ClimacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro Clima (German manufacturer) is a key partner for airtightness and windtightness products. Ecological Building Systems is an authorised distributor of Pro Clima products including Intello Plus (intelligent vapour control membrane — Passive House certified with best-ever results), Tescon Vana, Tescon No.1, Tescon Profil, Tescon Profect, Tescon Rapic, Solitex Plus, DA membrane, Orcon F sealant, and Tescon Sprimer primer. The company operates a Pro Clima stockist programme and provides free training for stockists.
• DiasencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiasen is an Italian manufacturer of lime and cork-based insulating plasters and screeds. Products distributed include Diathonite Evolution (lime, cork and clay based plaster), Diathonite Thermactive .037 (lime and cork plaster), Diathonite Deumix Plus (moisture managing plaster), and Diathonite Thermostep .047 (insulating floor screed). Ecological Building Systems operates a Diasen installer certification programme and actively recruits trained installers.
• ElkacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElka (German manufacturer) produces the Elka Strong Board — a breathable P5 particle board vapour open racking board, up to five times more breathable than OSB3. Distributed alongside the full insulation range as a complementary structural board product. Elka Strong Board is PEFC certified, has low VOC content, and is used externally or internally on timber frame walls.
• GramithermminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGramitherm produces sustainable grass insulation made from grass and recycled jute fibres using a carbon negative production process. Listed as a top-selling product on the Ecological Building Systems website, distributed alongside other natural insulation brands.
• IndiNatureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndiNature produces IndiBreathe Flex — natural flexible insulation made from UK-grown hemp and recycled jute fibres. Distributed through Ecological Building Systems alongside other natural fibre insulation products.
• WellhöferminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWellhöfer (German manufacturer) produces the Wellhöfer GutHolz Attic Hatch — an airtight insulated attic hatch with wooden ladder. Distributed as a complementary product in the airtight and windtight systems range.
• OptimeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOptime produces airtight downlight protectors — protective housings for downlights and speakers. Distributed as a top-selling accessory product in the airtightness range.
• Energy Build Centre of Excellence (Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA state-of-the-art training facility operated by Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (ETB) as part of Sligo College. Hosts the 'Low Carbon Solutions in Action' nationwide roadshow for Ecological Building Systems. Provides a facility for construction sector training in sustainable building and green skills. The centre offers a venue for hands-on workshops with natural fibre insulations and timber frame models.
• Passivhaus TrustminorOthersUK member association promoting Passivhaus and low energy building standards. Listed as a member association on the Ecological Building Systems website, signalling expertise in Passivhaus design and products.
• Passive House Association of Ireland (PHAI)minorOthersIrish member association for Passive House standards. Listed as a member association on the Ecological Building Systems website.
• AiroTech ScotlandminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved installer for Gutex Thermofibre blown-in wood fibre insulation. Covers nationwide in Scotland. Contact: [email protected], 07377 092287.
• J W InsulationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved installer for Gutex Thermofibre blown-in wood fibre insulation. Covers nationwide in England. Contact: [email protected], 0203 8626110.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kingspan Group: Global building envelope leader in high-performance insulation and membranes. Increasingly competing in the low-energy/retrofit space with bio-based and PIR/PUR products, posing both channel partnership and competitive threat to EBS.
• Travis Perkins: UK's largest builders' merchant chain. While not a sustainable-specialist, its merchant scale and stockist relationships overlap with EBS's Pro Clima stockist channel and represent the dominant channel against which EBS competes for shelf space.
• SIG plc: UK-listed specialist distributor of building products including insulation, roofing, and interior systems. Much broader portfolio and merchant footprint than EBS, but overlapping in insulation and airtightness categories.

Direct peers

• Back to Earth: UK supplier of natural insulation (wood fibre, hemp, cellulose), lime plasters, and clay paints. Operates in the same niche of breathable, natural-material building systems with a self-builder and contractor customer base.
• Lime Green Products: UK manufacturer and distributor of lime-based plasters, renders, and natural insulation systems. Sells through the same merchant and direct channels and is even an EBS-distributed brand, illustrating overlap on lime-product categories.
• Pro Clima (Moll bauökologische Produkte GmbH): German manufacturer of intelligent airtightness membranes and tapes. EBS is a distributor of Pro Clima in UK/Ireland; Pro Clima's own direct sales in DACH markets provide a parallel benchmark for the technical-sales-led airtightness distribution model.
• Green Building Store: UK supplier of Passivhaus components, triple-glazed windows, MVHR, and ecological insulation. Highly comparable as a Passivhaus specialist distributor targeting architects, self-builders, and low-energy retrofit projects.
• Natural Building Technologies (NBT): UK distributor of ecological building materials including lime plasters, natural insulations, and breathable membranes. Direct competitor serving the same self-build, architect, and Passivhaus segments across Great Britain.
• Ty-Mawr Lime: Welsh manufacturer/distributor of lime mortars, plasters, and natural insulation. Operates in the same traditional-and-eco building materials niche with strong technical-support and training offering comparable to EBS's CPD programme.

Emerging players

• 475 High Performance Building Supply: US distributor of Passivhaus components, tapes, membranes, and ecological insulation. Closest international analog to EBS's model of technical-sales-led distribution of premium European airtightness and insulation products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ecologicalbuild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecological Building Systems