Overijssel Energy Fund finances sustainable and bio-based construction company

12 December 2023

Broekland-based construction company Tala designs and builds sustainable houses made of wood and other bio-based materials. With their modular housing concepts, Tala not only contributes to making construction more sustainable, but also offers a solution to the growing housing shortage. Funding of EUR 4 million from Energiefonds Overijssel and Oost NL will allow the company to improve its current process and realise a new factory in Overijssel.

Construction still often uses materials such as concrete, brick and steel. Their production causes high CO₂-emissions. By building with wood and other sustainable and bio-based (installation) materials such as flax, hemp and bamboo, Tala contributes to the climate goals. Their modular concepts also have a very long lifespan. Tala builds the modules in its factory and then installs them on site. This significantly reduces CO₂-emissions during construction. In addition, the houses are fully dismountable and relocatable.

Expansion and improvement

Tala is using the funding from both funds to develop and improve its current production site. It will also expand the organisation and make its internal processes more efficient. By the end of next year, Tala will use this funding to expand to a second production location in Overijssel to continue serving the growing demand for sustainable homes.

Expected impact

Tala expects to save a total of 44,000 tonnes of CO₂ to be realised in the next four years. Per single-family home, Tala's bio-based construction method saves 135 tonnes of CO₂ . In addition, the expansion will create some 70 FTE jobs in the province of Overijssel.

Suzanne Groen, Investment Manager Circular at Energiefonds Overijssel:

"A sharply rising housing shortage and a construction industry responsible for nearly 40% of global CO₂-emissions necessitates rigorous changes. Tala is working smartly on sustainable construction, circularity and a substantial reduction in CO₂-emissions. That is an important reason for us as Energiefonds Overijssel to support this initiative."