THE big innovation pitch

shortlist announced

The search is on at Futurebuild 2025 for the newest and brightest solutions in the built environment.

Watch four shortlisted innovators battle it out in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to claim the title of the Big Innovation Pitch winner!

When: Wednesday 05 March from 5.15 pm
Where: Futurebuild Arena

Take a closer look at the finalists and their innovative products below.

The JUDGES

CHAIR & JUDGE
DR OLIVER JONES

Research Director at Ryder Architecture

Michael LYNCH

Legal Counsel, Restructuring, at NatWest Group

NATASHA BOULDING

CEO & Co-founder at Sphera

CHRIS HALL

Group Managing Director of Acivico and Managing Director of APSL Group

BIG INNOVATION PITCH CRITERIA

Big Innovation Pitch entries must demonstrate the criteria below

How is it innovative? Clearly state why the product is innovative.
How does it support the drive to net zero?
Does it support the circular economy?
Does is support planetary health?
Is the innovation extractive or regenerative?
How’s it going to change the industry?
Please give specific details of any life cycle assessments or emission reduction statistics you have achieved.

2025 BIG INNOVATION PITCH WINNER

WHEATEX Thermal Insulation Fibreboard

WHEATEX is the world’s first circular bio-based insulation board made from 100% waste wheat straw. It offers superior insulation, fire and mould resistance, and is a sustainable alternative to PIR and mineral wool. Locally produced and fully recyclable, WHEATEX reduces carbon emissions and supports net-zero buildings. Choose WHEATEX for a safer, greener, and cost-effective solution.

Find out more

2025 BIG INNOVATION PITCH SHORTLIST

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BIG INNOVATION PITCH: Adaptavate

ACLA

ACLA was developed in partnership with National Highways and Skanska to be used as a ‘drop in solution’ aggregate to significantly lower the carbon footprint of asphalt.

ACLA can be easily incorporated into a standard asphalt mix. To achieve net zero, 5-10% of ACLA by weight of the total asphalt mix is likely required depending on the embodied carbon of the mix designs.

LCM road aggregate is carbon negative. The aggregate is carbon negative due to multiple benefits:
(1) Carbon Removal – The aggregate is made from a material that has already sequestered carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide comes from the atmosphere and is permanently stored in the form of an aggregate and subsequently in roads.
(2) Mineralisation- ACLA continues to sequester carbon dioxide and lock it within the aggregate permanently.

FIND OUT MORE

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BIG INNOVATION PITCH: Innovate UK Transforming Foundation Industries

BOLT, 4kW Solar PV + Battery Heating and Hot Water System

BOLT is the game-changing Solar PV + Battery Green Solution, transforming heating and hot water by harnessing solar power—no inverter needed. Powered by our patented CoolRun technology, BOLT delivers unmatched efficiency and grid stability. Designed for forward-thinking projects, BOLT is the smart, sustainable choice that sets your building apart. Discover how BOLT turns sunlight into comfort—clean, cost-effective, and future-ready.

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Fixit 222 Aerogel insulating plaster

Fixit 222 Aerogel insulating plaster is a machine applied lime plaster, suitable for insulating modern and historic buildings alike. Its extremely low thermal conductivity of 0.026 W/mK allows thin layers to be applied, internally and externally, to achieve low U-values with minimal space loss.

It is very vapour permeable and flexible, which allows it to be used on historic buildings, particularly those with uneven walls. For the first time, high levels of insulation are accessible to older, hard-to-treat properties.

Being a mineral insulant, this product is completely non-combustible and releases no toxic fumes in a fire.

FIND OUT MORE

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BIG INNOVATION PITCH: Gentian Ltd

TreeParker®

Used throughout the UK and Europe, TreeParker® is trafficable up to 56t/m2, has no side walls to obstruct services and utilities, and is available in six height options, so no need to stack multiple units – saving time and material. TreeParker® can also be used as part of your SuDS programme.

Find out more

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BIG INNOVATION PITCH: NexGen Far Infra-red Ceiling Paper

WHEATEX Thermal Insulation Fibreboard

Introducing WHEATEX, the world’s first circular bio-based insulation board made from 100% waste wheat straw. Offering exceptional thermal and sound insulation, plus enhanced fire and mould resistance, Wheatex is a sustainable alternative to conventional materials like PIR and mineral wool.

Produced locally, it reduces carbon emissions and supports regional economies. With its unique self-binding technology, Wheatex eliminates harmful chemicals and synthetic binders, making it safer for both construction workers and residents. Fully recyclable, it creates a carbon sink and is ideal for energy-efficient, net-zero buildings.

Choose Wheatex for a safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective solution.

Find out more

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It’s been an extremely well attended show and the second day was extremely busy. It’s been great to get back to the event and meet with our customers and clients to show them about what’s happening in the future for us. There’s been a good customer mix to the stand and we’ve also seen end-users interested in the technology that’s started conversations and given them a vision for the future.

We’ve had a lot of interest in the stand, both with businesses and private individuals. In general, it’s been a very positive show and we already booked for next year while at the show.

We’ve had a lot of very focused conversations at Futurebuild, which is fantastic to see at a show that promotes net zero and champions everything about sustainability. We’ve seen a mix of people to come to the stand, including students, which has been heart-warming for the industry. We also work principally with large asset owners, so we’ve had great conversations with teams in this area.

We came to Futurebuild for a number of reasons. One is collaboration — we’ve been out for two years because of the pandemic so we’ve got a chance to see people face to face and see how passionate they are about certain topics in the industry.

Futurebuild has a really interesting mix of innovators and very traditional building materials companies, so it’s a really good show for us as a data analytics expert in the industry. Aico is traditionally known as a fire alarm sensor manufacturer, so we’ve come to the show to raise awareness that we do operate in this area and we are using sensors to collect data about the environment, such as how heating systems work.

Futurebuild has been great. We’ve found that the exhibits have drawn relevant high-quality visitors to the stand who had some really great questions. This is when we have to take action. It’s important for us to show what’s happening right now and what the industry is working on that lets us deliver net zero and decarbonised concrete.

The show has been very good and busy, and we’ve met different profiles of people each day — for example on day two we met a lot of installers who are involved in the trade. We have a spread of technologies on the stand, which have all been busy, so we’ve been able to talk across a range of topics, such as batteries, PV and heat pumps. It’s a nice statement of people’s journeys towards net zero.

After two years of us being away, it’s been a fantastic event. Our company is just moving to the UK, so we’ve made a large impact with hundreds of leads and dozens of connections. If you’re a company in the UK and are the cutting edge of the green tech revolution, you really need to be at Futurebuild 2023.

It’s our first time at Futurebuild and it’s been absolutely fantastic — we haven’t stopped. We’re a new company and it was our first exhibit, so it’s been great to meet people from every side. Every day has been different and we’ve had a lot of conversations, for example with architects on classification and regulation, as well as hemp farmers visiting to find out more about sustainability. The event shows that change can happen.

Futurebuild has been really busy, and we’ve had a constant flow of really good enquiries on the stand — we’ve already booked for next year. We’ve had a wide range of visitors, including cladding installers, architects, lecturers, developers who build traditionally who are now looking at building in different ways.

The buzz and the footfall here is really good. We’ve had a lot of positive conversations as a lot of attendees are early on in the design stage so want to get information from us.