External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) offer a solid and efficient protection against cold and heat. It allows to improve the thermal resistance and thus the thermal performance and to a lesser extent the acoustic performance, also helping to maintain comfort and pleasant temperature in summer and winter. Insulation materials are the key players as they help limit heat transfer, thus reducing the amount of energy required to raise and keep temperatures. As a result of this fact, they play an essential role to reduce impact on climate change as they decrease energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

European governments and organizations have been working on several initiatives to promote environmental sustainability projects in the construction sector such as focusing on energy efficiency, low environmental impact of buildings and recycling of materials to meet the nearly zero-energy buildings plans by 2050. In fact, the construction sector is a huge waste generator and buildings in the EU are responsible for over 35% of the EU’s total waste generation, 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions according to the European Commission. Being aware of this issue, the European Commission has put energy efficiency and materials sustainability in buildings as a priority to achieve its ambitious European Green Deal Strategy.

That’s where ETICS play a major role as energy-saving and sustainable thermal insulation of exterior walls as they prevent heat from escaping through the walls, they have good end-use properties, and reduce energy costs, the consumption of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. ETICS represent in 2023, the most widely used method in the EU with several hundred million square meters of external walls that are insulated yearly, and a key fast growing market segment.

Several studies showed that ETICS could indeed save 80% of CO2 emissions and proved their long-term performance and durability. . Different insulation products can be used on external walls, such as glass wool, rock wool, graphite, fiberglass, cork, expanded or extruded polystyrene. In addition, further insulation materials based on natural fibers are being tested, such as fiberfill wood, hemp fiberboards, flax and jute that are produced in Europe, thus enabling sustainable and circular economy.

To improve durability and impact resistance of the wall, the whole surface is reinforced by a Glass Open Mesh specifically designed by European manufacturers Therefore, External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems offer an efficient and environmentally sustainable building solution over a long-time perspective as they reduce pressure on the environment, cut energy costs and strengthen the European economy.