Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
A husband-and-wife founding duo at Hub71 is tackling one of the construction sector’s most persistent sustainability challenges: how to deal with waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.
David Wernery and Theresa Wernery, co-founders of Terrax, said the idea for the startup emerged during their work on the Expo 2020 Dubai site, where they were asked to explore sustainable materials that could be produced locally.
"We found that plywood was a major headache for the team on site - it is imported, usually cannot be made locally and is difficult to recycle at the end of its life," Theresa told Aletihad.
The company has since developed a process to convert mixed-waste streams into construction-grade materials. "We take landfill-destined waste, such as mixed plastics, combine it with waste fibres, such as plywood, and make a compound which is extruded into the end product," David explained to Aletihad.
Unlike conventional recycling systems, Terrax's technology does not require waste to be sorted or cleaned beforehand. This allows it to process contaminated plastics and complex materials such as multilayer packaging, including juice cartons made of cardboard, two different types of plastic, and aluminium foil.
The process begins by shredding plastics and fibre-based materials separately, before combining them in a reactor where friction heats the mixture to nearly 200°C. The resulting mass is then further processed and moulded into products such as boards that can replace plywood.
The company's first commercial product, TerraTile, is designed for exhibition flooring, a sector that traditionally follows a use-and-discard model.
"The TerraTile is a modular and very durable system, so it will significantly reduce the amount of plywood sent to landfill after an exhibition is complete," Theresa said.
According to David, each square metre of TerraTile can divert more than 12kg of waste from landfills.
"Most people don't realise that all of the carpet used in exhibitions is essentially single use," he said. "Once we are up and running, we will be able to use these single-use carpets recycled from exhibitions as input material for our TerraTile production."
Terrax's proposition aligns with the UAE's broader push towards a circular economy that prioritises resource efficiency and localised production.
"A product like the TerraTile shows that an industry or sector can create a viable circular product by examining its own waste streams and then replacing an existing, less sustainable product, with one made from its own waste," Theresa said.
The only plastic category that Terrax is currently unable to process is PVC - commonly used in banners and signage - as it requires specialised equipment to handle gases released during recycling.
Terrax joined Cohort 15 of Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem Hub71 in 2024, under its ClimateTech vertical that supports startups leveraging technologies for a Net Zero future.
Being part of this ecosystem, David said, has expanded access to potential partners in the UAE and a community of founders. "Building a business is less challenging with such a great support network," he added.
