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Collaboration and significant investment aims to accelerate rollout of ‘game changing’ VASO by Eco technology

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:13:27 GMT

A major disruptor in the UK construction sector, based in the South of Scotland, is benefitting from a £330,000 grant to propel its pioneering recycled‑glass building technology.

Vaso by Eco takes waste glass and converts it into high‑performance structural panels capable of delivering rapid, low‑carbon, modular homes and buildings.

The technology has been widely mooted as a potential solution to the Scottish housing crisis, following the Government’s declaration of a national housing emergency in 2024.

Now, thanks to new investment from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and project management and innovation support from Built Environment, Smarter Transformation (BE‑ST), the system is being readied for full commercial rollout.

Eddie Black, CEO of Vaso by Eco, said the funding represents a major milestone for the technology and the team behind it.

He added: “This is a huge vote of confidence for the game changing industrialised construction process we’re developing. We’ve always believed Vaso can change the way the UK thinks about construction, and this support helps us prove it at full scale.

“It accelerates our journey from an idea with potential to a product that can genuinely reshape how homes are delivered - cleaner, faster and with far less waste.”

Vaso by Eco’s composite panel system is a technology that transforms used glass into robust, thermally efficient building components.

The panels are engineered for high‑volume modular construction, using recycled glass to create a durable building system that prevents materials from heading to landfill.

With extensive research, testing and development already completed, the technology is now edging towards market readiness, and this latest funding represents the push required to take it over the line.

The investment will enable the panels to undergo rigorous testing in a live manufacturing and factory environment.

The ultimate ambition is to construct a full demonstrator house built entirely from the recycled‑glass system, showcasing the speed, durability and low‑carbon credentials that define the Vaso approach.

Beyond the technical milestone, the move is expected to strengthen the circular economy in the South of Scotland - turning waste materials into high‑value products while supporting regional innovation, boosting manufacturing capability and delivering new jobs.

The package will also support the relocation and recommissioning of Vaso by Eco’s new production facility.

This includes validating the production line, fitting out the factory, and integrating quality‑control processes alongside the testing and accreditation required before the system can be widely adopted across the construction sector.

Alan Johnston, Impact Manager at BE‑ST, said: “This project is an example of how innovation and circular‑economy principles can be embedded into practical construction solutions.

“By turning waste glass into structural building systems, Vaso by Eco is demonstrating the potential role circular ideas can play in sustainable manufacturing.

“We are excited to provide project management and innovation support to help move this technology from proof of concept to advanced testing and, hopefully, eventually into real‑world application, while maximising the environmental and economic benefits for the South of Scotland.”

The Vaso team will lead all operational aspects of the project, including the build of the demonstrator test house.

The team will also oversee the relocation of the demonstrator unit at the end of its agreed lifespan, ensuring the circular‑economy ethos continues throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Jane Morrison‑Ross, Chief Executive of SOSE, said:

"The South of Scotland has a reputation as the region where innovation is encouraged and supported.

“This collaboration with Vaso by Eco, BE-ST and SOSE ensures a joined-up approach to driving innovation in the South of Scotland.

“We are Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone, and we are launching the Borderlands Deep Tech Accelerator Hub - all of these initiatives showcase the ideas and the innovation that come from our rural businesses here in the South of Scotland.”

Major breakthrough for world-first house building technology

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:58:36 GMT

SUSTAINABLE house-building technology with the potential to solve global housing crises has been added to a highly regarded framework for disruptors in the Scottish construction sector.

VASO by Eco – an industrialised construction company that manufactures structural composite panels made from recycled‑glass – has already attracted global attention for its world‑first approach to low‑carbon construction.

Now it has been selected as just one of 27 organisations to be appointed to the Social Housing Emerging Disruptors (SHED) 5 Framework, a highly regarded national procurement route designed to accelerate the adoption of breakthrough technologies.

Eddie Black, Managing Director of VASO by Eco, said the framework acts as a powerful validator for new systems seeking to establish credibility.

He added: “SHED 5 gives procurement teams and architects the confidence they need to adopt new construction systems.

“It gets VASO by Eco in front of the right decision‑makers; the people who influence specifications and shape housing strategy.

“This inclusion is a significant milestone and opens the door to new conversations with councils, social landlords and sector leaders across Scotland.”

SHED 5 has quickly become one of the most respected platforms for construction and housing innovation, particularly within the built‑environment sector.

Its purpose is to remove the entrenched barriers that have historically restricted new technologies from entering mainstream procurement, such as rigid, specification‑led tendering, insufficient technical reference points, and risk‑averse procurement structures.

The framework enables housing providers, councils and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to explore emerging solutions with far greater speed and confidence than traditional procurement allows.

VASO by Eco – which sits within the framework’s energy efficiency, decarbonisation and sustainability category - was selected for the framework by PfH Scotland, a procurement services provider dedicated to the Scottish social housing sector.

Its recycled‑glass composite panels, engineered to deliver exceptional thermal performance and durability, allow homes to be built rapidly and at scale while significantly reducing embodied carbon.

This positions VASO as a direct response to the sector’s urgent need for cleaner, faster and more resilient building methodologies.

The recognition also marks an inflection point in the wider construction landscape. Contract activity through the SHED framework quadrupled in 2025, underscoring the industry’s growing appetite for solutions that can support net‑zero objectives, improve safety, accelerate delivery and offer value that traditional materials and methods cannot.

The appointment adds to a period of significant momentum for VASO by Eco. Eco has invested in a new 60,000‑square‑foot manufacturing facility that will create up to 70 jobs and expand production capacity for VASO’s glass‑composite panel system.

The innovation is also being explored for community‑led housing projects in the South of Scotland and forms part of wider collaborations with universities, architects and housing bodies aimed at enabling Scotland to scale industrialised construction at speed.

Eddie said: “Being appointed to SHED 5 sends a clear signal that the UK is ready to embrace new ways of building.

“VASO was created to tackle the biggest challenges facing housing today – speed, sustainability and affordability – and this framework gives partners across the country a trusted route to deploy those solutions at scale.”

To find out more about the SHED 5 Framework, click here .

VASO Delivers Bespoke Battery Energy Storage Unit

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:56:54 GMT

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are now central to the UK’s pathway to net zero—capturing excess renewable energy, stabilising the grid and ensuring clean power is available when needed most. As the UK accelerates its transition to wind and solar, the ability to store and dispatch renewable electricity has become a system‑critical requirement. Against this backdrop, VASO was delighted to design, deliver and install a bespoke BESS unit for a partner in December 2025.

The project demonstrates how purpose‑built storage can unlock the full value of solar generation. By integrating VASO’s engineered‑for‑purpose enclosure directly into the client’s solar infrastructure, the system enables captured surplus daytime generation to be stored, time‑shifted and exported efficiently during periods of peak demand. This reduces curtailment, maximises yield for the installer and supports wider grid stability at a time of rapid renewable expansion.

Unlike traditional BESS products that repurpose standard shipping containers, the VASO BESS platform has been designed from the ground up to meet the specific engineering challenges of high‑duty storage. The December installation featured a fully engineered VASO enclosure constructed using VASO’s high‑performance composite panels, which deliver exceptional thermal efficiency and inherent fire‑resistant properties. These characteristics make the system ideally suited to the demanding operating environment of a BESS installation, where stable internal temperatures and robust fire protection are critical to safety and performance. The unit integrates advanced fire suppression, controlled explosion venting and panel‑level thermal isolation—creating a purpose‑designed protective envelope that enhances operational resilience for both the installation team and the end user.

Its modular, pre‑configured architecture also enabled a rapid deployment, reducing on‑site installation time and minimising grid‑connection delays.

VASO’s next‑generation enclosure architecture also provides opportunities to reduce embodied carbon through optimised structural design and the use of low‑carbon material options, supporting clients who are targeting sustainable construction and whole‑life carbon reduction.

This successful collaboration with our PV partner highlights VASO’s commitment to delivering safe, reliable and future‑ready energy storage solutions. As demand grows, VASO continues to support the renewable sector with innovative systems designed to accelerate the UK’s transition to clean, flexible and resilient energy.

VASO by Eco showcases global housing solution at Barbados trade event

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:13:06 GMT

A PIONEERING business attended an international Trade Mission in Barbados earlier this month to showcase its solution to the global housing crisis.

VASO by Eco bosses flew to Barbados to discuss building homes on the island, and across other countries in the region, using its innovation which enables sustainable construction at volume, globally.

VASO by Eco is a world-leading circular housebuilding innovation which creates building solutions from panels manufactured from recycled glass, providing affordable, thermally efficient, low carbon dwellings which are rapid to construct.

VASO by Eco’s Chief Executive Officer, Eddie Black, and Chief Technology Officer, Simon Parrish, represented the company at the Trade Mission in Barbados.

Eddie said: “We’re delighted to have attended this year’s international Trade Mission in Barbados and showcased how our innovative products can benefit people on the island and in the wider region.

“It was an amazing opportunity for us to make connections and build relationships with international investors, as well as being part of the overall goal to increase trade between the UK and Barbados.

“The mission has a strong focus on certain sectors, with one of them being renewable energy and sustainable solutions. This enabled us to meet with local industry leaders and potential partners and discuss how we can support the Barbados community.”

The Trade Mission in Barbados was created in 2019 by Jo Smith of Renfrewshire Business Network, and Shane Thomas and Kaye Greenidge of Invest Barbados, and has since become an annual event.

Many event attendees over the years have either now set up operations on the island or are in the process of doing so. This includes Jo herself, who has worked with Barbados Community College to deliver social care courses to its healthcare students, through her company A1 Training Services.

VASO by Eco joins a long list of Scottish companies who have participated in the Trade Missions, including the University of West Scotland and Abergower Ltd, which specialises in digitalisation.

The Trade Mission took place shortly after International Trade Week which showcased the UK’s exporting potential.

Led by the Department for Business and Trade and sponsored by Santander, the event featured five days of free workshops and webinars designed to help UK businesses explore new markets and grow internationally.

VASO by Eco has responded to the UK’s need to build more homes more quickly by investing in a new manufacturing site which will create up to 70 jobs.

Eco Group has more than doubled its footprint in south-west Scotland by investing in a 60,000-square-feet manufacturing site in Dumfries where it will manufacture VASO by Eco’s innovative recycled glass panels for the housing and general construction markets.

The VASO by Eco manufacturing plant, which also has 1.8 acres of yard space at the Dumfries site, will immediately create 12 new jobs rising to a total of 70 new jobs within the next five years.

The manufacturing facility will help alleviate the housing crisis in Scotland as well as in the rest of the UK and abroad, by adopting industrialised construction methods.

VASO by Eco’s innovation is also being proposed for a new housing project in Closeburn, near Dumfries. The homes are designed to be available to young people from the area or seniors looking for affordable homes at attractive rents which are warmer and cheaper to heat.

The project will be in partnership with Nith Valley Leaf Trust and South of Scotland Community Housing, with South of Scotland Enterprise recently having completed a feasibility report for the development of the brownfield site.

Eco to create up to 70 jobs and alleviate housing crisis with VASO manufacturing site

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:58:22 GMT

VASO By Eco has responded to the UK’s need to build more homes more quickly by investing in a major new manufacturing site which will create up to 70 jobs.

The manufacturing facility will help alleviate the housing crisis in Scotland as well as in the rest of the UK and abroad, by adopting industrialised construction methods.

The VASO by Eco manufacturing plant, which also has 1.8 acres of yard space at the Dumfries site, will immediately create 12 new jobs rising to a total of 70 new jobs within the next five years.

Eco founder and Managing Director Eddie Black said: “Manufacturing VASO by Eco panels in Dumfries and Galloway will allow Scotland to be at the forefront of a building solution which will help solve the housing crisis in Scotland, the rest of the UK and in other places around the world.”

It only takes a matter of hours to manufacture a VASO by Eco house offsite. It only takes a few days to build it onsite using minimal labour and mechanical equipment, all while achieving high standards of quality, performance, sustainability and durability.

The innovation also tackles the construction skills shortage issue as it needs much less labour to build a VASO by Eco home, enabling governments to hit their housing targets.

Aligning with national strategies like Housing to 2040, VASO by Eco recognises the need for collaborative action to address housing pressures.

Eco’s investment comes at a time when commentators have repeatedly said a different approach to housebuilding is required to meet the UK’s shortfall of homes.

A range of reports have highlighted the shortage of homes in Scotland and the need for different thinking and solutions such as modular construction, circular manufacturing, and innovative offsite housing models.

Prosper’s “Housing Supply For A Growing Economy” report highlighted the need to accelerate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and invest in offsite manufacturing and innovation. It includes VASO by Eco as one of its case studies.

A “Key Worker Homes in the South of Scotland” report published by South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership found that 2,330 staff – almost 10 per cent of the workforce – are affected by housing shortages. Almost 80 per cent of employers report that housing significantly impacts recruitment and retention.

Eddie said: “There is now a golden opportunity to embrace industrialised construction which takes the stress away from traditional supply chains and creates a housing solution through circular and advanced manufacturing.

“We are delighted to be launching the manufacturing site at this time so that VASO By Eco’s speed and efficiency can provide a systematic solution to the housing crisis.”

Garry Legg, Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships, at South of Scotland Enterprise, said earlier this year: “There is a unanimous consensus that we must do things differently to address the housing challenge, with partners in the South of Scotland already coming together to take the action they know is required. The South of Scotland is up for, and ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently.”

VASO by Eco’s recycled glass panels offer superior thermal performance, fire resistance, and durability. They are also backed by a 60-year Lloyds of London warranty.

One of Eco’s two units at the Dumfries site will be utilised as a VASO by Eco production line, the other as storage. The base also has office space and a training room facility.

Eco is now on site and preparing to start production, launching with a Research and Development product line.

The plant will manufacture panels for Eco to demonstrate its first VASO by Eco showhome.

It will also manufacture VASO by Eco product for a construction project in Scotland already in the planning process, and be used to build commercial Battery Energy Storage Solution (BESS) container units and heat pump base panels.

VASO by Eco is already proposed for a new affordable housing project, at Closeburn north of Dumfries.

As a partnership between Nith Valley Leaf Trust (NVLT), South of Scotland Community Housing, and VASO by Eco, South of Scotland Enterprise recently commissioned a feasibility report for development of the brownfield site at Closeburn.

The VASO by Eco build solution would represent a 20-week timesaving compared with traditional construction.

Eco plans to launch a second line at the factory in October 2026, and a third by October 2027, by which time it will have created 70 new jobs.

As well as developing opportunities in the UK, Eco is also working on projects across Europe and taking part in an Invest in Barbados next month to discuss housing opportunities in the Caribbean, Cuba and Venezuela.

Eddie said: “We have spent the first 15 years of the company’s existence growing and adapting and diversifying so we can continue to be pioneers in our field.

“Building our own 3,000 square-metre HQ in Annan in 2020-21 was an incredible milestone for the company and a testament to the skills and capability of our team.

“Now we have something else to celebrate with a facility which is going to prove a complete game-changer for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industry.”

VASO by Eco has been shortlisted for a Circular Economy Award by BE-ST, Scotland's national innovation centre for construction and the built environment.

BE-ST’s awards celebrate the businesses, organisations and individuals making the biggest contribution to decarbonisation in the built environment and championing a just transition to zero carbon.

BE-ST works with organisations across the built environment sector, including industry at all levels, universities and colleges, and the public and third sector, to come up with new ways to transform the built environment to become stronger, more sustainable, and smarter.

BE-ST’s Accelerate to Zero Awards 2025 take place at Òran Mór in Glasgow on November 6

VASO by Eco’s recycled glass homes proposed for village scheme

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:24:32 GMT

A pioneering recycled glass solution is proposed for a new housing scheme in Scotland. VASO by Eco is a world-first construction innovation which enables sustainable homes to be built at speed, supporting Scotland’s net zero and sustainability goals.

BVASO by Eco’s build solutions create buildings from panels manufactured from recycled glass, providing affordable, low energy cost, low carbon homes.

The innovation, designed and developed at Eco Group’s HQ in Dumfries and Galloway, is being proposed for a new affordable housing project, at Closeburn north of Dumfries.

NVLT is investigating the site for a new housing project following last year’s housing survey, which evidenced a strong demand for more affordable homes in the area.

The Closeburn homes are designed to be available for young people from the area or seniors looking for warmer, cheap to heat, attractive homes at affordable rents.

VASO by Eco’s new build system and building modules, which use circular processes and advanced materials, will reduce the cost of living for residents.

The homes will be designed, manufactured and constructed off-site by Annan-based VASO By Eco, flat packed and then re-assembled on site.

The VASO by Eco build solution would represent a 20-week timesaving compared with traditional construction.

Mike Steele of NVLT said: “This is a rapid, low-impact build process which significantly minimises disruption during the building period and gets tenants in quickly. “

Eddie Black, Eco Group’s founder and MD, said: “Closeburn is a brilliant example of how VASO by Eco can create thermally efficient, affordable housing delivered at pace with minimum impact on the community while creating massive value for the community and allowing it to grow.

“This circular innovation creates a new build system and building modules with scalable manufacturing, providing large amounts of housing quickly and sustainably where it is most required.

“It’s also a solution which will create green economy jobs - helping young people gain new skills, apprenticeships and reskilling others to create new career opportunities.”

Mike Staples, Chief Executive of South of Scotland Community Housing, said: “SOSCH is delighted to be working with Nith Valley LEAF Trust (NVLT) to support the development of a new phase of five community-led affordable homes in Closeburn.

“NVLT’s earlier award-winning Passivhaus housing on Castle Crescent has been extremely successful, but we understand there is much greater demand for affordable, energy-efficient homes within the community.

“By addressing priorities from the 2016 Community Action Plan - including the need for family-sized affordable homes, tackling fuel poverty, and helping to reduce outward migration – the Castle Crescent homes have demonstrated how community-led action can have a transformative impact on a rural community, while contributing to responsible land use in the South of Scotland.

“Building on this success and ambition, SOSCH is pleased to be working with NVLT and Eco Group on proposals for a new phase of community-led housing on another underutilised site within the village. The plans consider the delivery of homes using innovative VASO Build technology, a sustainable, thoughtful and low-impact solution.”

Roost architects will show digital images of what the two and three-bedroom homes and a communal guest suite could look like at a community drop-in session at Closeburn on October 29, 4pm-7pm.

The drop- in session takes place at the village shop, 68 Closeburn, with local residents encouraged to come along and share their views on the designs.

Mike Staples said: “As project partners seek to progress this development, it is vital at this stage that NVLT hears the views of the local community. Residents will have the opportunity to meet the designers, explore 3D models and digital simulations and provide feedback on the proposed designs. Local voices are essential to community-led housing - ensuring the development meets the needs of the community while fostering a sense of ownership and pride. We encourage all local residents to attend the event and share their views.”

The Dumfries & Galloway Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2025–2030, the latest to set out a comprehensive framework for addressing housing challenges across its region, pledges to adopt innovation.

The strategy promotes community-led housing and encourages innovative models such as cohousing and modular construction to diversify housing supply and empower local communities.

Sustainable innovation in build systems—particularly industrialised construction methods such as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and modular/offsite building— is also increasingly recognised as a strategic enabler within the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan.

Aligning with national strategies like Housing to 2040, VASO by Eco recognises the need for collaborative action to address housing pressures. Its recycled glass panels offer superior thermal performance, fire resistance, and durability. They are also backed by a 60-year Lloyds of London warranty.

Eddie said: “With VASO by Eco we have a solution which is going to prove a complete game-changer for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industry.

“VASO by Eco’s speed and efficiency can provide a systematic solution to the nation’s housing shortage. It will allow Scotland to be at the forefront of a building solution which will help solve the housing crisis here and in other places around the world.

“VASO by Eco’s modular build system can erect a four-bedroom house super structure in just four days, with panels manufactured in under four hours. This rapid deployment capability directly supports a national priority to increase housing supply to meet urgent demand and circular economy growth targets.”

Commentators have repeatedly said a different approach to housebuilding is needed to meet the UK’s shortfall of homes.

Garry Legg, Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships, at South of Scotland Enterprise, earlier this year said: “There is a unanimous consensus that we must do things differently to address the housing challenge, with partners in the South of Scotland already coming together to take the action they know is required.

“The South of Scotland is up for, and ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently.”

VASO by Eco has been shortlisted for a Circular Economy Award by BE-ST, Scotland's national innovation centre for construction and the built environment.

BE-ST’s awards celebrate the businesses, organisations and individuals making the biggest contribution to decarbonisation in the built environment and championing a just transition to zero carbon.

BE-ST’s Accelerate to Zero Awards 2025 take place at Òran Mór in Glasgow on November 6.

Annan’s ECO ‘Explorers’ - DG Climate Hub Newsletter October 2025

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:45:54 GMT

Gaining his captain’s license at just 24 years of age, former deep-sea trawlerman, Eco Group Co-Founder and CEO Eddie Black, knows what it’s like to lead a team through rough seas and waves that can appear insurmountable.

Bringing to dry land all the problem-solving skills and tenacious survival instincts he honed out at sea, Eddie has become a respected visionary entrepreneur.

He established Eco as a dry ice company back in 2009 and has built it into the multi-solution providing Eco Group of companies that it is today.

Being a proud father and grandfather inspires Eddie’s vision for Eco in two different ways.

Believing that a business should embody the founder's vision and ethics, Eddie wants to build a legacy business in Annan that will last 150 years.

And with his family in mind, he is also in a hurry to find solutions that can help mitigate the climate crisis. A recent call-to-action post on his Linkedin account to fellow entrepreneurs and the construction industry certainly pulls no punches.

The construction industry needs a wake-up call, and lobbyists need to stop recycling the same tired messages—because the same thinking only ever delivers the same results. What we’re doing is bigger than money or economics. This is about our children, our grandchildren, and generations beyond. Sitting on the fence and protecting your own interests doesn’t change a thing. Social media is full of opinions that mean nothing—what’s missing are real solutions. Get after it, Make change and get off the fence.

I have known Eddie and Group Opportunity Strategist Gary Robertson for a while now and I’ve seen and heard the term ‘explorers’ being used as a kind of unofficial title for Eco staff. Suspecting that it might have something to do with searching far and wide for solutions I asked Gary and VASO Chief Technical Officer Simon Parrish to confirm or deny my suspicions.

The resolute determination to explore new innovations has created a real sense of mission. The suggestion of impatience in Eddie’s recent Linkedin post (fragment above) was perhaps prompted by the team’s untiring and dogged lobbying to have their VASO construction technology and methodology more widely recognised by the industry here.

An Eco Group webpage describes VASO as an innovation that...

Helps the build environment deliver structures rapidly, responsibly and sustainably by precision manufacturing and innovative technology unlike anything else.

So VASO is made from panels and other shapes that resemble steel girders which are actually recycled glass! Moreover a scalable fabrication method has been developed that can be replicated in situ to drastically reduce the carbon footprint of materials transportation. And to top it off buildings can be constructed in a matter of days; buildings that are incredibly resistant to temperature change outside keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer.

There are several examples of VASO buildings and one of the first was a school in Norfolk. In readiness for its 10th anniversary, the team placed sensors all over the building. Eddie told me that it is the most efficient building far out-performing passive house standards. The live data being recorded and sent to the government shows that its interior temperature has never fluctuated by more than one degree.

And right now there are plans underway for a small development of VASO houses in Closeburn collaborating with Mike Steel from Nith Valley Leaf Trust.

Collaboration is a central tenet of Eco’s work ethos, and as explorers the Eco team reaches out around the world from their Annan base to find solutions and partners.

As a trawler captain, Eddie used to navigate rough seas and seemingly insurmountable waves. In seeking to bring changes to an industry like construction with its deeply embedded traditional methods he is indeed trying to surmount yet another massive wave. But as he tells me; ‘It’s a simpler task when you’re simply bringing the truth to people.’

And as if that challenge isn’t enough, straight after our interview, Eddie, Gary and Simon travelled by train to London to sign a deal that really highlights the ruggedness of the VASO recycled glass construction method and its incredible ability to sustain near constant ambient temperatures. They are researching how to construct buildings on the moon ?!

Team Eco are now exploring off-planet opportunities and whilst doing so the Annan ‘explorers’ are just waiting for that watershed breakthrough moment back here at home. I wish them all the luck this planet can offer.

Read the full newsletter here

VASO by Eco launches collaborative Net Zero project to develop heat pump solution for buildings in towns and cities

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:06:47 GMT

A composite innovation business is developing a pioneering air source heat pump base made from recycled glass to transform the way the technology is installed in urban areas.

VASO by Eco, based in the south of Scotland, has developed the composite material as an alternative to concrete, to decarbonise the installation of heat pumps in towns and cities.

This week the business started collaborating with the Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings (CeNZ-HighDB) led by the University of Edinburgh to enhance the capability of the innovative product and refine the solution, with an objective of fast-tracking heat pump installations.

The UK government aims to significantly increase heat pump installations, targeting 600,000 installations per year by 2028.

This goal is part of the broader strategy to decarbonise heating and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

VASO by Eco is a world-first construction innovation, creating structural composite panels made from recycled glass.

VASO by Eco’s build solutions create buildings from the panels, providing affordable, low energy cost, low carbon homes.

The VASO by Eco Heat Pump Base Panel will contribute significantly to reducing the carbon footprint in air source heat pump applications.

It plays a crucial role in an integrated system which enhances speed of installation, reduced carbon emissions and better quality of the installation.

The high-quality VASO by Eco recycled glass panels will be designed to absorb vibrations more effectively than concrete, reducing noise and wear on the heat pump, potentially extending its lifespan.

It offers better thermal insulation compared to concrete, improving efficiency by helping maintain a more stable temperature around the heat pump. The material is also more resistant to cracking and settling, ensuring long-term stability and performance.

This green economy innovation, which is being developed at Eco Group’s HQ at Annan, in Dumfries and Galloway, aims to enable installations at volume globally.

CeNZ-HighDB, is a new UKRI-funded research centre to support and develop Net Zero solutions for high density buildings and streetscapes.

The centre collaborates across the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde, West of Scotland and Edinburgh Napier, as well as BE-ST, Scotland’s national innovation centre for construction and the built environment.

At the moment 55% of the world’s population live and work in urban areas and this figure is expected to rise to 68% by 2050.

Eddie Black, Managing Director of VASO by Eco, said: “We are thrilled to have the support of CeNZ-HighDB with our product development. Locations with high density building areas have some of the biggest challenges in meeting net zero ambitions.

“This is just one of the many reasons why there is such a critical net zero challenge, not just for the UK, but globally too.

“Our heat pump base panels will play a crucial role in reducing the carbon footprint and time of the installation as well as enhancing performance.

“This will be a vital step towards meeting the UK government’s target of increasing heat pump installations and decarbonising heating.”

Professor Sean Smith, centre director for CeNZ-HighDB, stated: “The VASO system has potential to accelerate the delivery of air source heat pumps, underpinning the green transition whilst delivering on a circular economy pathway.”

VASO by Eco was recently shortlisted for a Circular Economy Award in BE-ST’s Accelerate to Zero Awards 2025 which take place on November 6, at Òran Mór in Glasgow.

BE-ST’s awards celebrate the businesses, organisations and individuals making the biggest contribution to decarbonisation in the built environment and championing a just transition to zero carbon.

Inside BE-ST: A First Look at the Campus Relaunch and Centres of Excellence

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 08:33:33 GMT

It was a privilege to be invited to attend the recent Built Environment - Smarter Transformation campus relaunch and get the insider tour of the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence and the National Retrofit Centre.

It was energising to be in the room with so many forward thinkers, thanks also to the team at BE-ST the pop-up display of the VASO By Eco innovation, an unexpected surprise.

To see the full post click here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7374779109861793793

Forging the Future: Celebrating Circular Innovation aboard Clipper Stad Amsterdam

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 08:23:57 GMT

It was our privilege to be asked to join the esteemed guests on the Clipper Stad Amsterdam at Tower Bridge, London last night hosted by Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United Kingdom, City of Amsterdam & Ministry of Economic Affairs.

We were delighted to sign our collaboration agreement with Omid Hajishirmohammadi and join other partners on the EIC Pathfinder Challenge. Our circular innovation is viewed as a vital element of the collaboration and we are thrilled to be part of an exciting journey which looks to provide up to 13 million new homes and explore the opportunities to create buildings on the moon and beyond.

To view the full post click here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7376543708357267456

Why construction needs to adopt innovation to solve housing crisis

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:06:04 GMT

As another UK regional authority launches its housing strategy to try to alleviate a chronic shortage of homes, innovators ask will this be the moment their game-changing solutions are adopted.

The Dumfries & Galloway Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2025–2030, the latest to set out a comprehensive framework for addressing housing challenges across its region, pledges to adopt innovation.

The strategy promotes community-led housing and encourages innovative models such as cohousing and modular construction to diversify housing supply and empower local communities.

It cites innovation as a practical lever for:

Tackling housing affordability and supply challenges;
Supporting independent living and ageing in place;
Achieving climate goals and energy efficiency;
Enhancing community resilience and regeneration.

Aligning with national strategies like Housing to 2040 and responding to the Housing Emergency declared in June 2024, it recognises the need for collaborative action to address housing pressures.

Under its number one priority to building more homes the strategy aims to:

Address housing shortages and affordability issues;
Deliver 460 new homes annually (45% affordable, 55% market);
Align housing delivery with economic development and regeneration efforts;
Promote community-led housing and brownfield development.

Resource projections include more than £267M in affordable housing investment, £36M in general fund housing services, and £237M from Registered Social Landlords (RSLs).

Industrialised construction methods have the capability to supercharge new housing, also creating manufacturing opportunities and jobs.

Located within the same Dumfries and Galloway region, VASO by Eco, offers a solution to the housebuilding shortage across the UK with its innovative recycled glass product.

Those behind VASO by Eco urge their own home area to embrace a pioneering approach to housing by adopting such innovation and act as a catalyst for others to follow.

As a partnership, VASO by Eco, Nith Valley Leaf Trust (NVLT), South of Scotland Community Housing, and South of Scotland Enterprise recently commissioned a feasibility report for development of a brownfield site in Dumfries and Galloway with construction utilising the VASO by Eco system.

The VASO Build solution would represent a 20-week timesaving compared with traditional construction which could see £14,585 in additional rent income for the client.

Gary Robertson, Eco Group Opportunity Strategist, hopes the Dumfries & Galloway Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2025–2030 will pave the way for many more schemes which embrace such innovation.

Gary said: “Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Housing Strategy rightly calls for boldness and innovation. With homelessness breaches soaring to 380 in one year, the urgency is clear.

“The Council must be brave enough to embrace transformative solutions like VASO By Eco—developed locally in Dumfries and Galloway —which offers rapid, affordable, and sustainable housing.

“By applying community wealth building principles, the region can harness this innovation to create jobs, regenerate communities, and meet housing needs swiftly.

“The strategy’s ambitions demand more than plans—they require action. Innovation is here. The question is: will Dumfries and Galloway be bold enough to use it?”

Gary added: “The strategy sets out five strategic priorities, including building more homes, supporting independent living, extending housing options, achieving affordable warmth, and improving housing condition. VASO By Eco’s innovation directly supports all five.

“It describes the need to Accelerate Housing Delivery - VASO’s modular build system can erect a four-bedroom house super structure in just four days, with panels manufactured in under four hours. This rapid deployment capability directly supports the strategy’s priority to increase housing supply to meet urgent demand and economic growth targets.

“VASO panels are made from recycled glass and offer superior thermal performance, fire resistance, and durability. They are backed by a 60-year Lloyds of London warranty. This supports the strategy’s priority to achieve affordable warmth, energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty.”

VASO by Eco also meets several of the other objectives of the strategy such as:

Independent living and employment through housing-led interventions – VASO by Eco’s flat-packed units require minimal skilled labour, addressing the region’s construction skills shortage and enabling retraining and upskilling;
Climate emergency response and net-zero ambitions – VASO by Eco uses recycled materials and is engineered to withstand extreme weather, fire, and flooding;
Digital Integration and Innovation - VASO by Eco integrates Building Information Modelling (BIM), semi-autonomous construction, and bespoke design tools which supports smarter planning and aligns with an emphasis on innovation and partnership.

Gary said: “VASO By Eco’s speed and efficiency can provide a systematic solution to the housing shortage. It will allow the UK to be at the forefront of a building solution which will help solve the housing crisis here and in other places around the world.

“With VASO by Eco we have a solution which is going to prove a complete game-changer for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industry.”

Commentators have repeatedly said a different approach to housebuilding is needed to meet the UK’s shortfall of homes.

Recent reports have highlighted the need for different thinking and solutions such as modular construction, circular manufacturing, and innovative offsite housing models.

“The South of Scotland is up for, and ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently.”

Those who are embracing such innovative technology and different ways of approaching construction are left wondering why others charged with solving the housing crisis have been slow to adopt new ways of thinking.

VASO by Eco’s recycled glass homes shortlisted for Circular Economy award

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:00:08 GMT

A PIONEERING business which supports communities by building homes from recycled glass has been shortlisted for a national award.

VASO by Eco is a world-first construction innovation, building sustainable homes at speed to support Scotland’s net zero and sustainability goals.

VASO by Eco’s build solutions create buildings from panels manufactured from recycled glass, providing affordable, low energy cost, low carbon homes.

The innovation, designed and developed in Dumfries and Galloway, has now been shortlisted for an award by BE-ST, Scotland's national innovation centre for construction and the built environment.

VASO by Eco has been shortlisted for a Circular Economy Award in BE-ST’s Accelerate to Zero Awards 2025.

BE-ST’s awards celebrate the businesses, organisations and individuals making the biggest contribution to decarbonisation in the built environment and championing a just transition to zero carbon.

Sustainable innovation in build systems—particularly industrialised construction methods such as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and modular/offsite building—is increasingly recognised as a strategic enabler within the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan.

Eddie Black, Eco Group’s founder and MD, said: “With VASO by Eco we have a solution which is going to prove a complete game-changer for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industry.

“This recognition from the esteemed judges at BE-ST is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainable innovation and our dedication to driving meaningful change across the built environment.

“This achievement is a significant milestone for our business and underscores the hard work, passion, and innovative spirit that each member of our team brings to VASO by Eco. We have consistently aimed to push the boundaries of sustainable practices and to be acknowledged in this way is truly rewarding.

VASO by Eco’s new build system and building modules, which use circular processes and advanced materials, will reduce the cost of living in new builds.

Eddie said: “This circular innovation creates a new build system and building modules with scalable manufacturing, providing large amounts of housing quickly and sustainably where it is most required.

“It’s also a solution which will create green economy jobs - helping young people gain new skills, apprenticeships and reskilling others to create new career opportunities.

“We are delighted VASO by Eco has been chosen by BE-ST as a finalist, and we look forward to an event which brings together the best of Scottish innovation, all with a shared vision of building a more sustainable future.”

BE-ST’s Accelerate to Zero Awards 2025, sponsored by Anderson Strathern, Scotland Excel, KORE Retrofit, Harley Haddow, and ValoremFirst, take place on November 6, at Òran Mór in Glasgow.

Scottish Innovation poised to tackle housing crisis

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:10:23 GMT

Innovation developed in Scotland is ready to be deployed to help solve the nation's housing crisis, following the Scottish Government's new Housing Emergency Action Plan.

VASO by Eco, a company based in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, is promoting its industrialised construction method as a key solution to the housing shortage.

The company's modular build system can erect a four-bedroom house superstructure in just four days, with panels manufactured in under four hours, providing a 20-week time saving compared with traditional construction. The panels are made from recycled glass and offer superior thermal performance, fire resistance, and durability.

Eddie Black, Managing Director of Eco Group, which developed the product, said the government should "embrace homegrown innovation" to "rapidly deliver affordable and sustainable housing." He called the product a "complete game-changer" for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industries.

The company states that its solution aligns with all three pillars of the government's Housing Emergency Action Plan, including rapidly rehousing families from unsuitable accommodation, supporting vulnerable communities with low-energy homes, and boosting growth and investment in housing delivery.

The Scottish Government has pledged £4.9 billion over four years to deliver 36,000 affordable homes by 2029–30. The government's plan recognises that Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are essential to accelerating housing delivery and meeting its target of increasing housing output by 10% annually.

Garry Legg, Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships at South of Scotland Enterprise, said the region is "ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently." VASO by Eco has recently commissioned a feasibility report for a brownfield site in Dumfries and Galloway, with construction planned to use its innovative system.

Why homegrown innovation can supercharge bid to solve Scottish housing crisis

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:08:46 GMT

Innovation developed in Scotland is ready to be deployed to speed up the response to solve the nation’s housing crisis.

In the wake of this week’s Ministerial Statement by Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan, unveiling the Housing Emergency Action Plan—a comprehensive response to Scotland’s deepening housing crisis – and the Scottish Parliament debate which followed, embracing innovation is seen by many commentators as the key to unlocking the country’s housing slowdown.

Recent reports have highlighted the need for different thinking and solutions such as modular construction, circular manufacturing, and innovative offsite housing models.

Industrialised construction methods have the capability to supercharge new housing, also creating manufacturing opportunities and jobs.

Innovation in build systems—particularly industrialised construction methods such as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and modular/offsite building—is increasingly recognised as a strategic enabler within the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan, and is embedded across all three pillars of its strategy.

VASO by Eco is ideally placed to support the Housing Emergency Action Plan by offering a solution to the housebuilding shortage across Scotland with its innovative recycled glass product.

Aligning with national strategies like Housing to 2040, VASO recognises the need for collaborative action to address housing pressures.

Eddie Black, Eco Group Managing Director, hopes the Government announcement will pave the way for many more schemes which embrace innovation.

Eddie said: “The urgency of the situation is clear for all to see. We would urge the Scottish Government to embrace homegrown innovation which can significantly speed up the solutions, and rapidly deliver affordable and sustainable housing.

“VASO By Eco’s speed and efficiency can provide a systematic solution to the housing shortage. It will allow Scotland to be at the forefront of a building solution which will help solve the housing crisis here and in other places around the world.

“With VASO by Eco we have a solution which is going to prove a complete game-changer for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industry.

“VASO’s modular build system can erect a four-bedroom house super structure in just four days, with panels manufactured in under four hours. This rapid deployment capability directly supports the strategy’s priority to increase housing supply to meet urgent demand and economic growth targets.

“VASO panels are made from recycled glass and offer superior thermal performance, fire resistance, and durability. They are backed by a 60-year Lloyds of London warranty. This supports plan’s ambitions to achieve affordable warmth, energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty.”

McAllan’s statement outlined a three-pillar strategy:

Ending Children Living in Unsuitable Accommodation

£80 million investment this year (doubling the previous fund) to acquire homes and move 600–800 children out of temporary housing;
Councils are expected to “flip” good-quality temporary accommodation into permanent homes for families;
Awaab’s Law to be implemented from March 2026, targeting damp and mould in rented homes.

VASO support these ambitions with:

Speed of deployment means VASO homes can help councils quickly rehouse families from temporary or unsuitable accommodation;
Durability and energy efficiency ensure these homes are not just fast, but fit for long-term family living, supporting child wellbeing and stability.

2. Supporting Vulnerable Communities

£1 million “Fund to Leave” to help 1,200 women and children escape domestic abuse;
£4 million to expand Housing First tenancies for people with complex needs;
Extension of Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans funding to 2026–27;
£2 million in discretionary housing payments to help households in temporary accommodation transition to private rentals.

VASO supports these ambitions with:

Low energy costs and high thermal performance reduce fuel poverty risks for vulnerable households;
Minimal skilled labour requirements make it easier to deploy homes in rural or workforce-constrained areas, including for Housing First or domestic abuse survivors.

3. Boosting Growth and Investment in Housing

A commitment to increase housing delivery by 10% annually across all tenures for the first three years of the next Parliament;

Exemptions from rent controls for mid-market rent and build-to-rent properties to encourage investment;

Plans to unlock land for housing in rural areas and support developments like the 10,000 homes at Blindwells New Town;
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are seen as essential to accelerating housing delivery, especially to meet the target of increasing housing output by 10% annually across all tenures;
The Scottish Government has committed to supporting MMC through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, with around 90% of new homes already using some form of MMC (e.g., timber frame, modular, panelised systems);
Cost efficiencies of up to 8% have been identified when using standardised designs and larger developments (40–50 units), making industrialised construction attractive for scaling;
Local authorities are encouraged to include MMC in their Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs), with emphasis on mass customisation, collaborative procurement, and design standardisation;
The government is running pilot MMC initiatives in Edinburgh and South East Scotland, combining R&D with procurement and design innovation. Private sector organisations like Ardbeg Modular are advocating modular construction as a scalable, cost-effective solution to meet the 110,000 affordable homes target by 2032.

VASO supports these ambitions with:

Rapid, scalable housing delivery: Homes are manufactured offsite in hours and assembled onsite in days, significantly accelerating build timelines;
Industrialised construction: The system uses precision-engineered composite panels made from recycled glass, aligning with the government's push for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC);
Investment-ready innovation: Recognised in the Housing Supply for a Growing Economy report, VASO is seen as a model for attracting both public and private investment into housing innovation.

VASO also offers additional strategic benefits including:

Circular economy leadership: VASO homes are made from recycled glass, supporting Scotland’s net zero and sustainability goals.
Skills and jobs: The system supports green job creation, apprenticeships, and reskilling—especially important in regions like VASO by Eco’s home region of Dumfries & Galloway.
Export potential: With international interest (such as a forthcoming trade mission to Barbados), VASO could position Scotland as a global leader in sustainable housing innovation.

In terms of financial commitment, The Scottish Government pledged £4.9 billion over four years to deliver 36,000 affordable homes by 2029–30, aiming to house up to 24,000 children. This includes both public and private investment, with further details expected in the upcoming Scottish Budget.

Prosper’s recent “Housing Supply For A Growing Economy” report highlighted the need to accelerate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and invest in offsite manufacturing and innovation.

“The South of Scotland is up for, and ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently.”

VASO by Eco has been developed by Eco Group at its base in Annan in Dumfries and Galloway.

The VASO Build solution would represent a 20-week timesaving compared with traditional construction.

Black Backs Building

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:15:53 GMT

Eco Group has responded to the UK’s need to build more homes quickly by investing in recycled-glass panels which will create jobs and solve the housing shortage – claims Eddie Black.

VASO by Eco combines industrialised construction with green housebuilding innovation. It creates building solutions from composite structural panels manufactured from recycled glass, providing affordable, low energy cost, low carbon dwellings which are quick to construct.

Eco’s investment comes at a time when UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced the biggest cash injection into social and affordable homes in 50 years under a new Affordable Homes Programme, due to receive £39bn of investment in the next decade.

The government also announced more than 500,000 homes will be built through a new National Housing Bank which will unlock £53bn of private investment to turbocharge housebuilding.

New approach needed

Commentators have repeatedly said a different approach to housebuilding is needed to meet the UK’s shortfall of homes. Recent reports have highlighted the need for different thinking and solutions such as modular construction, circular manufacturing, and innovative offsite housing models.

Prosper’s ‘Housing Supply For A Growing Economy’ report published recently, highlights the need to accelerate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and invest in offsite manufacturing and innovation. It includes VASO by Eco as one of its case studies.

Who’s Black

Eddie Black is the founder and managing director of Eco. He says: “There is now a golden opportunity to embrace industrialised construction which takes the stress away from traditional supply chains and creates a housing solution through circular and advanced manufacturing.

“VASO by Eco’s structural composite panels made from recycled glass helps the built environment deliver structures rapidly, responsibly and sustainably by precision manufacturing and innovative technology unlike anything else.

“VASO By Eco’s speed and efficiency can provide a systematic solution to the housing shortage. It will allow the UK to be at the forefront of a building solution which will help solve the housing crisis here and in other territories around the world.”

Quick homes

It only takes a matter of hours to manufacture a VASO by Eco house offsite. It only takes a few days to build it onsite using minimal skilled labour and mechanical equipment, all while achieving high standards of quality, performance, sustainability and durability.

Skills shortage solution

The innovation also tackles a construction skills shortage as it needs much less labour to build a VASO by Eco home, enabling authorities to hit their housing targets.

Garry Legg, the head of strategy, planning and partnerships, at South of Scotland Enterprise, says: “There is a unanimous consensus that we must do things differently to address the housing challenge, with partners in the south of Scotland already coming together to take the action they know is required. The south of Scotland is up for and ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently.”

International developments

As well as developing opportunities in the UK, Eco is also working on projects across Europe and taking part in an Invest in Barbados visit in November to discuss housing opportunities in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Black says: “We have spent the first 15 years of the company’s existence growing and adapting and diversifying so we can continue to be pioneers in our field.

“Building our own 3,000 square metre HQ in Annan in 2020-21 was an incredible milestone for the company and a testament to the skills and capability of our team.

“Now with VASO by Eco we have a solution which is going to prove a complete game-changer for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industry.”

Eco to create jobs and alleviate housing crisis with recycled glass solution

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:53:04 GMT

Eco Group has responded to the UK’s need to build more homes more quickly by investing in a solution which will create jobs and solve the housing shortage. VASO by Eco is a world-leading green housebuilding innovation which creates building solutions from composite structural panels manufactured from recycled glass, providing affordable, low energy cost, low carbon dwellings which are quick to construct.

Eco’s industrialised construction solution will help alleviate the housing crisis across the UK – supporting the UK Government’s recently announced bid to ‘turbocharge’ housebuilding – by adopting industrialised construction methods.

Eco’s investment comes at a time when UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the biggest cash injection into social and affordable homes in 50 years under a new Affordable Homes Programme, due to receive £39bn of investment in the next decade.

The Government also announced more than 500,000 homes will be built through a new National Housing Bank which will unlock £53bn of private investment to turbocharge housebuilding.

Prosper’s “Housing Supply For A Growing Economy” report published recently, highlights the need to accelerate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and invest in offsite manufacturing and innovation. It includes VASO by Eco as one of its case studies.

Eco founder and Managing Director Eddie Black said:

“THERE IS NOW A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO EMBRACE INDUSTRIALISED CONSTRUCTION WHICH TAKES THE STRESS AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS AND CREATES A HOUSING SOLUTION THROUGH CIRCULAR AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

“ VASO BY ECO ’S STRUCTURAL COMPOSITE PANELS MADE FROM RECYCLED GLASS HELPS THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT DELIVER STRUCTURES RAPIDLY, RESPONSIBLY AND SUSTAINABLY BY PRECISION MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE

“ VASO BY ECO ’S SPEED AND EFFICIENCY CAN PROVIDE A SYSTEMATIC SOLUTION TO THE HOUSING SHORTAGE. IT WILL ALLOW THE UK TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF A BUILDING SOLUTION WHICH WILL HELP SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS HERE AND IN OTHER TERRITORIES AROUND THE WORLD.”

The innovation also tackles a construction skills shortage as it needs much less labour to build a VASO by Eco home, enabling governments to hit their housing targets.

Garry Legg, Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships, at South of Scotland Enterprise, said:

“THERE IS A UNANIMOUS CONSENSUS THAT WE MUST DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CHALLENGE, WITH PARTNERS IN THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND ALREADY COMING TOGETHER TO TAKE THE ACTION THEY KNOW IS REQUIRED. THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND IS UP FOR, AND IDEALLY PLACED TO BE, SCOTLAND’S TESTBED FOR DOING HOUSING DIFFERENTLY.”

Eddie said:

“WE HAVE SPENT THE FIRST 15 YEARS OF THE COMPANY’S EXISTENCE GROWING AND ADAPTING AND DIVERSIFYING SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE PIONEERS IN OUR FIELD.

“BUILDING OUR OWN 3,000 SQUARE-METRE HQ IN ANNAN IN 2020-21 WAS AN INCREDIBLE MILESTONE FOR THE COMPANY AND A TESTAMENT TO THE SKILLS AND CAPABILITY OF OUR TEAM.

“NOW WITH VASO BY ECO WE HAVE A SOLUTION WHICH IS GOING TO PROVE A COMPLETE GAME-CHANGER FOR THE SCOTTISH, UK, AND WORLDWIDE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY."

The UK has a golden chance to create vibrant sustainable communities delivering a bold vision of the future – not just build houses

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:13:06 GMT

That’s the view of experts who say new ways of thinking about planning and building communities, combined with new eco-friendly materials and modern construction methods, transform the art of the possible.

Whole communities can be revitalised by planning and building communities with a mix of facilities and uses, like community halls, schools, gyms, workshops, underground parking with EV chargers, as well as the homes themselves, all linked by formal and informal green spaces, with routes to existing community hubs and facilities like health centres.

By embracing new construction materials and methods which offer affordable, quick to construct, quality affordable homes, this vision can turn into a reality faster than people might think.

Gary Robertson, VASO Build Ltd Group Strategist, said: “Now is the time to adopt some fresh thinking of what is possible in construction.

“Instead of just building more homes and having more of the same, let’s think about makes a community a great place to live – and then let’s build those communities sooner rather than later, and deliver places and spaces which create better, safer, more healthy lives for people.

“We can learn from what other places across the world have done in creating communities, not just buildings.

“By investing in sustainable, long-lasting, value-for-money innovations, we can transform our communities with exemplar developments,

“The UK has the opportunity to be a pioneer and set the standard for this type of thinking and this model of construction for the UK and beyond.

“VASO Build is uniquely placed to support the infrastructure ambitions of the government with our volume manufacturing and composite material innovation, creating sustainable, energy efficient and long-lasting build systems.

“At VASO Build we are open to collaborating and co-creating solutions with any organisation which is keen to unlock the potential of what innovative solutions can bring to the construction sector and our communities.”

VASO Build Limited is a world-first circular housebuilding innovation

which creates building solutions for homes or schools and other structures using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and a new sustainable panelling system manufactured mostly from recycled glass.

VASO Build Limited will use MMC to deliver affordable, low carbon dwellings for Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), social housing providers and private house builders.

VASO’s solution overcomes traditional supply chain issues and skills shortages in the sector by creating a new build system and module with a short timeframe construction.

It only takes a matter of hours to manufacture a VASO house offsite. It only takes a few days to build it onsite using minimal labour and mechanical equipment, all while achieving high standards of quality, performance, sustainability and durability.

VASO was chosen to be part of BE-ST Circular and Advance Materials in Construction Accelerator and was presented at BE-ST Fest 2023 - the UK’s biggest zero carbon built environment festival.

VASO was also invited by Innovate UK to attend a showcase event at the British Antarctic Survey HQ in Cambridge in May this year in relation to concrete and building materials innovation.

Company Co-Founder and CEO Eddie Black was also invited to Lagos earlier this year to present VASO Build as part of Innovate UK’s Global Alliance Africa delegation to the Future Cities Africa Green Building Summit.

VASO’s majority shareholder is Eco Group, a diverse multi-industry solutions business based in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament meet with Graham Simpson MSP

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:57:58 GMT

We were delighted to accept an invitation from Graham Simpson MSP to meet at The Scottish Parliament and share insights on our composite structural panel and our solution to enable volumetric construction of new homes in Scotland.

Discussing our project in Dumfries and Galloway with South of Scotland Community Housing and Nith Valley Leaf Trust, gave Mr Simpson a real example of how our circular manufacturing innovation can deploy dwellings at speed with efficiency in construction and costs which can bring positive social and economic impacts.

Our revolutionary recycled glass panel will help tackle the global housing problem

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 13:01:39 GMT

At Vaso By Eco we believe our revolutionary recycled glass panel, will help tackle the global housing problem.

Over a year has passed since the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency, and nearly 11 months have gone by since the UK Government pledged to build 1.5 million new homes during this parliamentary term.

Gary Robertson, Group Strategist, said "Recent reports from The Hunter Foundation, Prosper, South of Scotland Community Housing, and The David Hume Institute emphasise that providing new homes can yield significant health, social, and economic benefits.

Traditional builders can't meet demand through old methods alone. It's time for industrialised construction and innovative materials to accelerate housing development. Vaso is ready to go and ready to build."

Eco hosts Housing Minister to discuss sector’s role in Scotland’s future

Wed, 21 May 2025 14:41:33 GMT

A Scottish business which is leading the way in sustainable industrialised construction to meet the nation’s housing needs hosted Minister for Housing Paul McLennan.

Mr McLennan joined Prosper members in the South of Scotland for an “In Conversation With…” event at Eco Group, Annan, last week, to explore opportunities for the future of housing in the region. The event showed that the South of Scotland is ideally placed to be: “Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently,” said Garry Legg, Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships, at South of Scotland Enterprise.

Discussion during the visit focused on support to unlock housing developments and the fundamental role housing plays in growing the regional economy.

Recent reports have highlighted the shortage of homes in Scotland and the need for different thinking and solutions such as modular construction, circular manufacturing, and innovative offsite housing models.

Prosper’s “Housing Supply For A Growing Economy” published recently emphasises the importance of innovation as a lever for economic growth. It highlights the need to accelerate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and invest in offsite manufacturing and innovation. It includes VASO by Eco as one of its case studies.

The report makes 21 recommendations starting with the need for the Scottish Government to set an ambition of 25,000 homes being built per year amid a range of measures to prioritise the role of housing in driving growth.

A “Key Worker Homes in the South of Scotland” report published by South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership this month found that 2,330 staff – almost 10 per cent of the workforce – are affected by housing shortages. Almost 80 per cent of employers report that housing significantly impacts recruitment and retention.

VASO By Eco, which will manufacture composite construction panels made from recycled glass, is one of a range of world-first decarbonisation technologies and carbon mitigation strategies developed by the pioneering business, to deliver industrialised construction solutions to help address Scotland’s and the UK’s housing shortage.

Led by founder Eddie Black, Eco specialises in Contract Manufacturing, Original Brand Manufacturing, and Services to Manufacturing across the UK.

Eddie said: “It was a pleasure to host the Prosper event and we were delighted to welcome Housing Minister Paul McLennan to Eco HQ in Annan. It is over a year since the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency and finding solutions is critical to Scotland's economic growth and, from a South of Scotland perspective, how we retain and attract talent to our region.

“The opportunity to discuss industrialised construction, the speed and efficiency VASO By Eco offers as a systematic solution to the crisis, with the Minister and invited guests, offered an approach from outside the traditional silos and provided optimism that there are innovative solutions being developed to take the stress away from traditional supply chains and create a housing opportunity by circular and advanced manufacturing." Speaking after the event, Garry Legg said: “There is a unanimous consensus that we must do things differently to address the housing challenge, with partners in the South already coming together to take the action they know is required.

“Some of that will require wholesale change, which will take time. Much can, however, be achieved via flexing what we have and do now, and in affording greater autonomy.

“Arguably nowhere else in Scotland is such a determined, action-orientated, co-ordinated and truly collaborative effort to boost housing delivery underway. We are a region leading by example.

“Coupled with the scale and nature of available sites and underpinned by the ambition and tenacity of many of our communities and businesses – who are already collaborating in new ways to pioneer bold and innovative solutions which could benefit Scotland and beyond – the South of Scotland is up for, and ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently.”

Mhairi Duncan, Regional Manager, Prosper, said: “Prosper gives members the chance to directly shape government thinking and action, and our event with Mr McLennan is a perfect example of this.

“The event explored the opportunities for the future of housing in the region and gave members in the region a chance to share their priorities.”

The event took place at Eco Group, Annan Business Park Way, Annan, on May 21.

Eco hosts Powering Futures students as nationwide skills programme hits the road

iol.eddie.black@integrityoffice.co.uk (Eddie Black) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:44:03 GMT

A diverse manufacturing business which is leading the way in sustainable industrialised construction to meet the UK’s housing needs hosted more than 60 secondary school students who presented their ideas on how to tackle society’s key challenges.

Eco Group, led by founder and MD Eddie Black, specialises in Contract Manufacturing, Organic Brand Manufacturing, and Services to Manufacturing in a range of industries across the UK from its base in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway.

Eco’s VASO Build Solutions, construction panels made from mostly recycled glass, is one of a range of world-first decarbonisation technologies and carbon mitigation strategies developed by the pioneering business.

On Monday (March 17), Eddie and Eco Group Opportunity Strategist Gary Robertson, and Eco colleagues, hosted S5 students from Annan Academy as part of the forward-thinking Powering Futures programme involving 1,300 pupils in 86 schools across Scotland.

Powering Futures, which is supported by 47 Scottish businesses and organisations, “prepares the workforce of the future for the jobs of the future, educating the workforce of the future” in over 100 Scottish secondary schools, and trains the workforce of the future in large employers across the country.

The SCQF level 6 accredited programme equips learners with critical meta-skills that employers are looking for while gaining an understanding of sustainability knowledge.

The event at Eco on Monday kicked off a programme throughout Scotland over the next two weeks where students will be making their final presentations to businesses in boardrooms, from the Borders to Inverness, to mark the culmination of their 30-week challenge.

Eddie Black, who was one of the judges at Monday’s event, said: “Investing our time, energy and expertise in the next generation is something I have been passionate about ever since the day we set up our business more than 15 years ago.

“With the way Eco has grown and diversified, we were delighted to host the Annan Academy students at our headquarters and hopefully give them a taste of what a sustainable business environment looks and feels like.

“It was fabulous to see and listen to their challenge presentations. It was a privilege to be in the room with group of young people with such inquiring minds.

“We were genuinely blown away by the thinking and research they had done to come up with their solutions to some of society’s major challenges.

“All the students showed impressive problem-solving skills. We know all too well how much adaptability, collaboration and resilience they will have had to show to get to this presentation stage – we have even named one of our businesses Resilience because we know what an important quality that is in today’s fast-changing society. Congratulations to all the students – you were amazing.

“Big thanks must also go to all the teachers and staff at Annan Academy for giving our young people the support and opportunity to take part, and to the team at Powering Futures for making these experiences happen which will stand the students in such good stead today for embarking on the careers of tomorrow.”

Participants in the Powering Futures Schools Programme engage in hands-on learning as they collaborate to find a solution to real-life sustainability challenges that have been set for this 2024-2025 academic year.

Industry partners are embedded in the delivery of the curriculum programme, which is designed to systematically create a pipeline of talent to businesses involved in delivering the transition to net zero.

Annan Academy is one of only four schools nationally to have enrolled an entire year group in the SCQF level 6 programme, the same level of Higher or modern and foundation apprenticeships.

Annan Academy Headteacher Ewan Murray said: “By integrating the Powering Futures Challenge into the whole year group instead of as an optional course, we ensured that all our students could benefit from learning these essential meta-skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, and organisation.”

Powering Futures Co-Founder David Reid said: "The teams demonstrated that the new skills that they have developed over the past 30 weeks around team building, collaboration, problem solving and now presentation skills, all attributes that they need for a great career and a job in the future. So much so that Eco, our hosts, have already identified two or three individuals that they would like to speak more to about vacancies that they have, because they were so impressed.

“By fostering essential meta-skills that are highly valued by employers, the Powering Futures Schools Programme not only prepares students for their careers but also empowers them to navigate all aspects of life beyond education.

“They have helped the students gain the experience and confidence needed to navigate an evolving job market and contribute meaningfully to their industries. As a result, the students are not just preparing for the future - they are actively shaping it.

“Thank you also to all the team at Annan Academy for their support. We’re excited to continue collaborating with the academy to guide young people toward a brighter, more prosperous future.”

Eco’s green build solution to help solve nation’s housing crisis showcased at UK’s biggest zero carbon built environment festival

iol.eddie.black@integrityoffice.co.uk (Eddie Black) — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 21:18:04 GMT

A green build solution by Scottish-based innovators Eco which uses recycled glass to help tackle the nation’s housing crisis is set to be showcased at the UK’s biggest zero carbon built environment festival.

“ Given the massive problems that housing shortages across the UK are causing, it’s our duty to look at new sustainable solutions to these urgent challenges to meet both immediate and longer term needs.”

- Eddie Black, Eco's Managing Director

Eco’s VASO Build Solutions will create buildings from panels manufactured from recycled glass, providing affordable, low energy cost, low carbon dwellings for all stages of life and lifestyle.

Through the development and delivery of better materials and modern methods of off-site construction, Eco’s VASO product provides housing solutions for social landlords, social housing providers and private house builders, as well as being ideal for commercial buildings.

Eco’s innovation is one of only six initiatives to be selected for support on the Circular and Sustainable Materials Accelerator which is being established by Scotland’s construction innovation centre BE-ST.

Eco’s new build system and building modules, which use circular processes and advanced materials, aim to reduce the cost of living in new builds as well as being fast to deploy as a retro-fit solution in existing buildings.

The innovation will be showcased at BE-ST’s zero carbon build summit being held at Hamilton International Technology Park on November 1. https://be-stfest.org/the-summit

Eddie Black, Eco’s Managing Director, said: “This circular innovation will create a new build system and building modules with scalable manufacturing, providing large amounts of housing quickly and sustainably where it is most required.

“We are delighted this innovation has been chosen by BE-ST for this support and look forward to working with those on the accelerator to help make this yet another game-changing innovation from Scotland.

“It’s also a solution which will create green economy jobs - helping young people gain new skills, apprenticeships and reskilling others to create new career opportunities.”

“ We are committed to being at the forefront of the net zero revolution and, working in collaboration with businesses and other organisations, creating a legacy which will make a difference now and for generations to come.”

- Gary Robertson, Eco Group Opportunity Strategist

Eco Group Opportunity Strategist Gary Robertson has been invited to present the innovation at the BE-ST event which is looking at how businesses can break through barriers to accelerate society’s journey to zero carbon.

Gary said “Our ambition at Eco is to make a profound and positive difference in people’s lives and have a significant, sustainable global impact.”

From deploying world-first decarbonisation technology at its HQ at Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, to providing practical everyday solutions such as off-grid lighting, Eco’s partnerships with market-leading tech companies ensure that it can make innovative technologies accessible to businesses and organisations across the UK.

The BE-ST conference brings together different organisations who are focussed on the future of decarbonising the built environment.

To book your place visit:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/be-st-circular-and-sustainable-materials-accelerator-tickets-709267517237?aff=oddtdtcreator