Our love affair with hemp has been a rock-solid relationship from the start!
Our mission
Create buildings with positive impacts on the environment and the health of occupants by democratizing the use of prefabricated hemp materials in construction.
Our vision
To become a global pioneer in innovation and industrialization of hemp-based bio-sourced materials.
Our story
North America's sustainable construction pioneers, transforming hemp into eco-friendly solutions to build a carbon-neutral future
Maxime and Philippe, both construction engineering students, first met during a student exchange between Belgium and the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS). They quickly became friends, united by shared passions for the environment, innovation, and travel.
Back in Quebec, the two future founders noticed a glaring lack of environmental vision in the engineering curriculum. It offered little training focused on sustainable design, which is necessary to create low-impact buildings, or even "net-zero" buildings—a concept that was still little known in 2018.
After extensive research, training outside of academia, and visits to eco-friendly construction companies, Maxime and Philippe discovered hempcrete construction. In May 2020, they founded HECO Innovation Chanvre, with the goal of industrializing the hempcrete process and materials.
HECO combines the benefits of hempcrete—self-regulation of indoor humidity, a positive ecological footprint, and improved indoor comfort—with the problems of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and waste caused by traditional materials like gypsum. The company seized this opportunity to develop and offer a range of hemp-based insulation products. These bio-sourced materials represent a concrete and immediate solution to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector while limiting the waste of raw materials.
Revolutionize your constructions with the innovation of hemp
HECO Innovation Chanvre is the first company in North America to offer a unique concept for industrializing hempcrete materials, an essential element for the construction of carbon-neutral and carbon-negative buildings.
The team behind the innovation
Maxime St-Pierre
Co-founder, Business Development
Maxime graduated in construction engineering from the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in 2019 and in civil engineering technology from Cégep de Trois-Rivières in 2015. He has acquired recognized technical expertise. His experience in project management in private construction companies has allowed him to understand contractors' expectations and provide concrete solutions to optimize construction methods and integrate new products.
A commitment to sustainable construction
Alongside his engineering expertise, Maxime specializes in eco-responsible construction and bioclimatic design. His participation in Centech Montréal's Acceleration program in 2019, combined with training in innovation management, strengthened his passion for entrepreneurship and his management skills. Today, he aims to position HECO as a key player in the field of green and sustainable building.
Philippe Fortin
Co-founder, Research and Development
After graduating in construction engineering in 2019, Philippe continued his studies with a master's degree focusing on hempcrete, an innovative and environmentally friendly material. His research earned him several distinctions, including a master's excellence scholarship and an NSERC scholarship. He also completed his master's program with a distinction, highlighting his dedication and remarkable contributions to the field.
An innovator in the service of sustainable construction
Philippe is driven by a passion for continuous improvement and a fascination with technical concepts related to construction. His past experiences have allowed him to realize the importance of material selection in the performance and durability of buildings.
A researcher and innovator at heart, Philippe now devotes his expertise to promoting the use of bio-sourced materials in construction in Quebec. As co-founder of the company, he uses his skills to successfully complete ambitious projects, promoting the adoption of more sustainable and environmentally friendly construction practices.