What is the name of your organization?
AGREKA BUILD
What is the name of your solution?
WHEATEX Thermal Insulation
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
We turn waste wheat straw into WHEATEX: natural, self-binding insulation that decarbonises agriculture & construction—no binders needed
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Nantwich CW5, UK
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United Kingdom
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
The built environment and agriculture are responsible for 62% of global CO2 emissions. To meet net-zero targets, we must rethink the materials used in construction. WHEATEX offers a scalable solution by linking these two high-emission sectors. Conventional insulation materials like polyisocyanurate (PIR), expanded polystyrene (XPS), and fibreglass—which are petrochemical-based, VOC-emitting, and environmentally damaging—WHEATEX is fully natural, non-toxic, and regenerative. It's a sustainable alternative that benefits both people and the planet.
What is your solution?
We upcycle waste wheat straw—a low-value byproduct often sent to landfill—into high-performance, rigid insulation boards through a unique, binder-free process. Designed especially for retrofitting buildings, WHEATEX helps boost energy efficiency and reduce reliance on carbon-intensive heating systems. We’re providing a scalable, green revenue stream from waste, whilst addressing a real material need within the built environment which has a scarce options for sustainable solutions.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
WHEATEX not only reduces embodied carbon by 80% but as a natural fibre insulation, WHEATEX also improves indoor air quality compared to conventional insulation. PIR and XPS off-gas VOCs & formaldehyde, degrading air quality, whilst the small fibres in mineral wool generate dust worsening asthma and other respiratory conditions. Our solution WHEATEX does not present these issues, but rather improves the quality of indoor air. Our material also has a superior fire performance as the boards char when exposed to flame and self-extinguish when removed from direct flame — this characteristic is comparable to engineered timber and is an ideal performance. However, PIR and XPS release toxic gases like hydrogen cyanide when exposed to fire which often contributes to the death and poisoning of residents and fire fighters (such as the 2017 Grenfell Fire). The fire fighters union have long lobbied against the use of these materials in the built environment due to the carcinogens they release.
