Back to Earth was established 10 years ago in mid-Devon by Chris Brookman, a chemistry graduate drawn initially to building with cob because of its sculptural and tactile qualities.
Within a couple of years Back to Earth's reputation for quality construction projects meant it was much in demand for both traditional restoration work and new builds, with cob and lime the primary building materials.
Limited supply options and inconsistent quality standards led Back to Earth to begin manufacturing small amounts of natural building materials itself.
Chris Brookman was also keen to explore how these materials could be applied to modern and mainstream construction projects, but large contractors weren't interested in cob because it was too risky, too expensive, too slow and required skills they didn't have.
Committed to promoting the use of natural building materials across all types of construction projects, Chris Brookman determined that the route forward for Back to Earth was to source and supply natural products that were sustainable, but also practical and no different to use than regular building materials.