Delft-based Respyre BV, a company that has developed a technique to create moss concrete, announced that it has raised a convertible loan of €300K from the Noord-Holland Innovation Fund (INH).
In a company statement translated from Dutch, Auke Bleij, founder of Respyre, says, “We want to release our first products this year and increase the scale of our moss cultivation. We will do this by increasing our team, and therefore our expertise, with technical expertise. In addition, our production facilities are becoming more professional and monitoring of the mosses is becoming more intensive.”
About Noord-Holland Innovation Fund
INH is an initiative of the Province of Noord-Holland, the University of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, Sanquin, and the Free University, with support from the EU through the European Regional Development Fund.
INH has also received support from the REACT EU fund. It provides convertible loans from this fund to companies that need financing to prove new ideas and concepts, the so-called ‘Proof-of-Concept’ phase.
The INH manages two funds, a fund for innovative early-stage starters supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and a fund for academic starters supported by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Wouter Keij, Fund Manager of INH, says “Respyre is developing an innovative technology that makes it possible to grow moss on concrete. Mosbeton contributes to making the living environment more sustainable by combating particulate matter. In addition, the solution is circular because Resypre’s moss concrete mainly consists of used concrete. As a result, the CO2 emissions from construction projects can be reduced.”
What does Respyre offers?
Founded in 2020 by Mark de Kruijf, Auke Bleij, Dr Ir. Marc Ottelé, Dr Henk Jonkers, and Delft Enterprises, Respyre aims to make eco-friendly construction easier through the use of smart products. The startup is a spin-off of the Delft University of Technology.
Respyre looks to change the current mix between construction and nature. The company’s first product that is currently being worked on is moss concrete. Respyre believes that any surface coated in moss, no matter how big or small, transforms into the city’s own self-contained natural ventilation system.
The moss concrete makes it possible for communities to affordably and readily welcome biodiversity. This also makes it possible to address issues like CO2 production and atmospheric pollution.
The startup says, “We provide our clients with our knowledge and expertise in moss. We help select the right type of moss for the right environment, advise on suitable locations for our solution and assist in the design of facades when necessary. We do this to ensure everything the system needs is provided by natural precipitation and provides its natural benefits without extra intervention.”
Moss concrete is a form of circular concrete which, when used with Respyre’s methods, has a bio-receptive impact. As a result, moss and other tiny living things can develop on concrete. Additionally, Respyre creates a gel that promotes the moss’s production and growth. This combination makes it possible to apply nature to cities with low costs and low maintenance.
By using moss concrete, urban issues like noise and air pollution are addressed. It also eliminates additional urban stressors, enhancing both human and animal quality of life.
This moss concrete is currently 80 per cent circular but has the capacity to become fully circular. In addition, CO2 can also be stored in moss concrete, providing it a positive CO2 footprint.
