Terrazzo specialist Diespeker & Co has teamed up with Dutch company Duracryl as the key UK supplier of its sustainable seamless terrazzo Durabella, a poured terrazzo that uses a unique and proprietary chemical-free biopolymer.
The collaboration was established after Diespeker undertook rigorous testing in-house to ensure the product provides the same quality and durability as its traditional resin terrazzo.
Whilst Diespeker will continue to supply standard terrazzo, its production of non-standard poured and precast resin terrazzo will be transitioning to the new material. Durabella has already been selected for two major projects in the first half of 2025: a seamless floor for a west-London hotel, and countertops plus skirting for an event and conference venue in Westminster.
In a sector that is challenging to green up, this is the latest step in Diespeker’s growing list of eco-credentials.
Diespeker MD John Krause explained: “Over the past few years we have been implementing sustainable measures across the business, including water recycling and dust suppression in the factory, a solar PV installation to provide green energy, and the development of Rubblazzo, our own terrazzo-style product which reuses waste materials.
“Durabella is a far more sustainable terrazzo than anything we’ve looked at so far. Ultimately it will allow us to move towards a bio-based bespoke service, demonstrating Diespeker’s genuine commitment to minimising our impact on the planet.”
Durabella’s environmental attributes include:
- Use of a biopolymer made from vegetable oil that contains no chemicals or materials on the Red List.
- A low carbon footprint of just 1.6kg/m2 as opposed to traditional epoxy resin at 35kg/m².
- No requirement for the use of epoxy, or harsh chemicals during the installation process.
The material is ideal for seamless flooring including high-traffic commercial environments. It is a flexible terrazzo offering 40% better sound absorption than standard resin terrazzo. This attribute also means it is less prone to cracking and crazing. Durabella has excellent characteristics in terms of aesthetics and durability making it suitable for precast and moulded projects such as worktops, vanity units, reception desks, cladding and splashbacks.
Diespeker is already a UK market-leader in the creation of unusual and complicated bespoke terrazzo designs. Krause said: “Our expert bespoke team, who ran the testing process for Durabella, are excited by its potential. They will continue to use our tried and tested methods of creating terrazzo to order - but now with an added sustainable benefit.”
The switch to Durabella means that architects, designers, and other commercial clients can now specify Diespeker terrazzo for projects with critical environmental targets without any compromise to finish and quality.
“We’re confident that this will give Diespeker a real edge in the commercial sector where there is quite rightly an increasing focus on sustainability,” Krause added.
Durabella has been successfully used for numerous projects across Europe, including Carrier Transicold, Guerilla Games, Personio, Uber, Schipol Airport, the Province of Zuid-Holland, Canada House, Dublin and Delft Station.
Duracryl CEO Jeroen van den Berg said: “Diespeker is a well-established terrazzo supplier in the UK market. The company has a lot of history with prestigious projects. Duracryl is very excited to start our collaboration with such a company.”
