What Drastic does

Drastic is a four-year Horizon Europe research and innovation project launched in October 2023, co-funded by the European Union under grant agreement No 101123330 through the Built4People partnership. The project coordinates 23 partners across eight European countries and operates five Demonstrator pilot projects located in Balaguer (Spain), Düsseldorf (Germany), Rapla (Estonia), Saint Denis (France), and Hønefoss (Norway). Each Demonstrator targets a distinct building layer—structural, skin, service, or space plan—to demonstrate circular construction solutions, material reuse, and reductions in operational and embodied carbon emissions, with the explicit goal of contributing to whole life cycle decarbonisation of the EU building stock by 2050. Demonstrators represent building typologies covering up to 80% of European building stock and address a sector responsible for 40% of EU energy consumption and 36% of GHG emissions.

The project develops and disseminates open-access methodologies including the Design Guidance Framework (D2.1) and Data Collection Protocol (D2.2) for multi-cycle sustainability and circularity assessment. Technical outputs include the patented Design for Assembly and Disassembly (DfAD) methodology by partner Produktif, Saint-Gobain Weber's weber.therm circle ETIC system designed for dismantlement and recyclability, and multi-cycle traceability systems for ceiling tiles and partitions. Demonstrator-level outcomes include 50% building energy reduction (Estonian Demonstrator), 38-95% reduction in environmental impact categories relative to conventional construction (Norwegian Re:Textile facility), 8.6 tonnes CO2eq avoided per project, and 0 kg CO2eq per m² for reused products under French carbon footprint regulations. Industry partners include multiple Saint-Gobain entities (Isover, Weber, Ecophon, Clipper, Saint-Gobain Research Paris, Saint-Gobain Solutions France), Celsa Group, Sorigué, and Produktif, alongside academic partners UPC, TalTech, and Maastricht University, with VITO serving as project coordinator and WorldGBC as Communications Lead.

Drastic operates as a grant-funded research consortium rather than a commercial entity and has no pricing or revenue model. Project deliverables, assessment frameworks, protocols, and demonstrated solutions are disseminated at no cost through the project website, resource library, interactive stakeholder map (Kumu.io), training programs, webinars, General Assemblies, and external events including the Smart City Expo and World Circular Economy Forum. Recognition to date includes Construction21 Green Solutions 2025 Awards and a COP30 international round nomination for partner Produktif's Passive House construction submission.

Name

Drastic

Legal name

DRASTIC Project (Demonstrating Real and Affordable Sustainable Building Solutions with Top-level whole life cycle performance and Improved Circularity)

Website

https://drasticproject.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Drastic is a four-year Horizon Europe research consortium of 23 partners across eight countries, demonstrating circular construction solutions through five European Demonstrator pilots and developing open-access frameworks for whole life carbon reduction and material reuse in buildings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circular Construction Research

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (23611), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Decarbonization Strategy & Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) Advisory (EUABAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Demolition & Selective Tear-Out (Non-Structural) (HSAPAFAI), Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

Keywords

• Circular construction research
• Building material reuse
• Whole life carbon reduction
• Sustainable construction demonstrators
• Multi-cycle building assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Genk

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU Research Funding: Four-year Horizon Europe research project co-funded by the European Union under grant agreement No 101123330, supported by the Built4People partnership

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Drastic is a four-year Horizon Europe research project that demonstrates circular, low-carbon construction solutions through five European Demonstrator pilot projects spanning Spain, Germany, Estonia, France, and Norway. The project develops standardized assessment frameworks, design guidance, data collection protocols, and digital product passports for multi-cycle material reuse and whole-life carbon reduction across the construction value chain.

Product overview

Drastic is a Horizon Europe research project (not a commercial product company) that operates five European Demonstrator projects across Spain, Germany, Estonia, France, and Norway. These Demonstrators focus on circular construction solutions including material reuse (steel, cement, timber, office interiors), deep energy renovation, and external insulation systems. The project also produces deliverables including the Design Guidance Framework (D2.1) and Data Collection Protocol (D2.2) for multi-cycle sustainability assessment. The project is co-funded by the EU under grant number 101123330 and runs from 2023-2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Five European Demonstrator Projects Five pilot Demonstrator projects across Europe (Spain, Germany, Estonia, France, Norway) focused on demonstrating circular construction solutions, material reuse, and whole-life carbon reduction in buildings.
• Design Guidance Framework (D2.1) A framework based on multi-cycle sustainability and circularity assessment for design guidance in circular construction.
• Data Collection Protocol (D2.2) Protocol for data collection for multicycle sustainability and circularity assessment.
• Spanish Demonstrator: Steel and Cement Reuse (Balaguer) Demonstrates disassembly and reuse of structural steel elements and repurposing of white slag as supplementary cement material, constructing a circular warehouse from decommissioned Litoral Thermal Power Plant materials.
• German Demonstrator: ETIC System (Düsseldorf) Develops a circular External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) that can be dismantled and recycled by component type at end of service life, including reusable insulation and recyclable aggregate components.
• Estonian Demonstrator: Deep Energy Renovation (Rapla) Validates complete deep energy renovation of an apartment building using circular principles, prefabricated timber-framed insulation panels, and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), achieving 50% energy reduction (from 211 to 105 kWh/m²/year).
• French Demonstrator: Office Interior Reuse (Saint Denis) Demonstrates reuse of interior space plan products (ceiling tiles, partition walls) within office retrofits through quality checks, remanufacturing, and multi-cycle traceability, with reusable products counting as 0 kg CO2eq per m² under French carbon footprint regulations.
• Norwegian Demonstrator: Reclaimed Timber (Hønefoss) Explores multi-cycle reuse of structural wood elements to create temporary commercial constructions, integrating reclaimed timber from abandoned Norwegian barns using Design for Assembly and Disassembly (DfAD) technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in building energy consumption (from 211 to 105 kWh/m²/year)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CircHub ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaborative cluster network of seven Horizon Europe projects working together to accelerate circular built environment transition. Includes ATRIUM, BIOBUILD, BIOS MATER, Circ-Boost, INGUMA, RECONSTRUCT, and Drastic.
• CircBoostmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026EU project collaboration focused on testing and upscaling circular solutions through five pilot projects across eight European regions, with digital building platforms and urban material databanks.
• VITOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Project Coordinator leading the Drastic consortium. VITO (Belgian research organization) manages overall project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and CircHub cluster representation. Carolin Spirinckx serves as Project Manager.
• World Green Building Council (WorldGBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunications Lead partner overseeing project dissemination, stakeholder map development, and industry outreach activities.
• Adec GlobalmajorTechnology or IntegrationSpanish partner specializing in managing and utilizing steel slag into recycled aggregates for concrete and cement applications.
• Celsa GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish steel provider leading the Spanish Demonstrator, performing quality tests on harvested steel structural elements and providing white slag for cement substitution research.
• Clipper (Saint-Gobain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner specializing in office interior space plan products (partitions, ceiling tiles) for the French Demonstrator, hosting partition reuse installation at headquarters.
• Ecophon (Saint-Gobain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench acoustic ceiling solutions provider contributing ceiling tile harvesting and reuse expertise to the French Demonstrator.
• IcademajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench real estate company providing office buildings in Aubervilliers for French Demonstrator ceiling tile and partition reinstallation demonstrations.
• Isover (Saint-Gobain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman insulation provider for the German Demonstrator's External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETIC).
• Alliance HQE-GBC FranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench Green Building Council partner supporting project dissemination and French Demonstrator webinar coordination.
• Lezama DemolicionesmajorTechnology or IntegrationSpanish demolition company specializing in selective demolition and sustainable dismantling, deconstruction partner for Litoral Thermal Power Plant steel recovery.
• Maastricht University / Maastricht Sustainability InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch academic partner responsible for ecosystem creation, exploitation, sustainable business models, and social acceptability research within Drastic.
• OmtrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian partner leading timber recovery from abandoned barns, providing reclaimed timber for Norwegian Demonstrator and supporting technical testing.
• ProduktifcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian partner providing Design for Assembly and Disassembly (DfAD) technology, C-Joint system, and Passive House construction expertise for Norwegian Demonstrator.
• Saint-Gobain Research ParismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch division coordinating technical development of tools for French Demonstrator's on-site diagnosis, performance assessment, and social acceptance evaluation.
• Saint-Gobain WebermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman partner providing the weber.therm circle system, the first ETIC system designed for dismantlement and recyclability.
• SoriguémajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish partner hosting Spanish Demonstrator at Balaguer facilities, contributing to circular business model development.
• TalTech (Tallinn University of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstonian technical university providing research expertise for Estonian Demonstrator, conducting hygrothermal testing, indoor climate, energy performance, and product durability assessments.
• TimbecocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstonian partner leading Estonian Demonstrator, specializing in customized production of energy-efficient timber frame elements and modular houses.
• UPC (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish technical university providing engineering expertise for Spanish Demonstrator, specializing in steel reuse testing and white slag characterization for cement substitution.
• Saint-Gobain Solutions FrancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner collaborating on circular business model development and office partition refurbishment for the French Demonstrator.
• United Village Global (UVG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization collaborating on Nordic co-creation workshop for Design for Assembly and Disassembly, material reuse, and multi-cycle building systems.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Madaster: Commercial platform for material passports and material documentation integrated with Drastic's traceability work; directly comparable as a tech-enabled solution enabling the kind of multi-cycle material lifecycle tracking that Drastic's Digital Product Passports aim to standardize.

Direct peers

• BIOBUILD: Horizon Europe project developing bio-based construction materials; comparable to Drastic as a sibling CircHub cluster consortium funded under the same Built4People partnership, addressing adjacent material-reuse and low-carbon construction challenges.
• CircBoost: Horizon Europe project testing and upscaling circular built-environment solutions through five pilots across eight European regions; Drastic is already co-disseminating outputs with CircBoost via the CircHub cluster, making it a directly comparable research consortium with overlapping scope in circular construction.
• INGUMA: Horizon Europe project on sustainable construction; comparable as a fellow CircHub consortium member, sharing Drastic's funding source, multi-country demonstration model, and focus on circularity in the built environment.
• ATRIUM: Horizon Europe project focused on circular and regenerative approaches in the built environment; it is one of seven CircHub cluster partners alongside Drastic, sharing the same EU policy framing, multi-stakeholder consortium structure, and demonstration-driven research model.
• RECONSTRUCT: Horizon Europe project on circular renovation and reconstruction of the built environment; directly comparable to Drastic as a CircHub cluster peer with shared Built4People partnership framing and overlapping demonstration-driven research model.
• BIOS MATER: Horizon Europe project on bio-based and circular construction materials; part of the same CircHub cluster as Drastic, with a comparable consortium structure, EU policy alignment, and demonstration-led approach to circular construction research.

Broad incumbents

• World Green Building Council: Global umbrella organization advancing sustainable building practices; Drastic's official Communications Lead partner, it operates at industry-association scale across the same circular construction and decarbonization agenda but with global geographic scope rather than the EU consortium model.

Others

• Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE): European policy think tank focused on building energy performance and decarbonization; thematically comparable as an EU-level entity shaping the regulatory and policy environment (EPBD, Level(s), EU Taxonomy) within which Drastic's frameworks and demonstrators are designed to be adopted.
• Built4People Partnership: European public-private partnership co-funding Horizon Europe construction projects; directly comparable as the EU program framework under which Drastic operates, setting the policy priorities and funding criteria that shape all CircHub cluster projects.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=ZU2i2JSHejI&list=PLEHsCjuDVjvg_VkOK2V5mHyvT-roRia4L
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drasticproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Drastic