At a Glance
Location: Poland
Impact Areas: Employment Generation
People Supported:
Migrants, Refugees, Women, At-Risk Youth
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2024
Overview
Based in Gdańsk in northern Poland, Ekoinbud specializes in community-based, sustainable construction solutions for schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and single and multi-family homes. Since 2015, the socially impactful enterprise has specialized in prefabricated wooden construction with dedicated teams that lead the architectural design, manufacturing, and on-site assembly and construction of green buildings. Notable projects include Poland’s first wooden hospital and sustainable residential homes adapted for the elderly and people with disabilities, among others.
Ekoinbud’s energy-efficient buildings consume up to 75% less CO2 than traditional buildings, and are designed to be warm in winter, cool in summer, and highly durable, with resistance to strong winds, fire, and pests. Additionally, the company uses eco-friendly materials in its construction processes and modular techniques to optimize material use and further minimize waste, contributing to the company’s sustainable building practices.
In the construction industry, unskilled workers often face temporary and unstable employment. Beyond its efforts to promote wooden construction as an ecological and sustainable alternative, Ekoinbud places great emphasis on creating and improving access to dignified employment opportunities in manufacturing, design, and on-site construction for the local community where it operates. By defining clear career paths for employees and providing hands-on skills development in these technical areas, it has supported over 50 people from marginalized backgrounds to secure decent jobs within its own workforce and on the open market.
Ekoinbud also runs internship and apprenticeship programs for students and other people from marginalized groups interested in sustainable building design and construction, including women and refugees and migrants, specifically people displaced due to the war in Ukraine.
In a predominantly male-dominated industry, Ekoinbud shows a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It works actively to promote women’s career development in the sector, with 75% of its managerial roles being held by women.
Results & Impact
25%
of Ekoinbud’s workforce from marginalized backgrounds
75%
of managerial roles are held by women
180
jobs for excluded people (60% migrants, 40% excluded individuals) by 2027
“Ekoinbud’s mission is to create spaces that not only meet the highest sustainability and environmental standards, but that also serve individual people and our local communities. We act with passion and commitment, with the benefit of future generations in mind.”
NESsT Investment
Ekoinbud is committed to social impact, with a strong track record of creating quality jobs for marginalized groups, including refugees.
NESsT's investment to Ekoinbud will support the company to develop online design software, allowing users to customize modular homes. Additionally, mentoring and business assistance will support the Ekoinbud team to streamline design processes and project delivery. By improving operational efficiency and leveraging digital innovation, Ekoinbud aims to increase its sales and expand employment opportunities for marginalized groups by 75%, with a focus on refugees and migrants seeking quality jobs in the region.
Additionally, over the next three years the enterprise will provide vocational training for 300 marginalized individuals, hiring or placing over 180 people – over half from refugee or migrant backgrounds.
Ekoinbud and NESsT will also work together to further promote gender equality in the company’s leadership, particularly in its governing bodies, positioning Ekoinbud as both a leader in sustainable modular construction and a driver of social impact in the construction sector.