Hemp Voices: Ryan Chivers, Earthaus Plaster

Ryan Chivers is founder and product developer of Earthaus Plaster.

Regenerative, Biobased Materials Represent the Future of Building

I’m the owner and founder of Earthaus, a manufacturer of durable, accessible lime plasters sourced and made in the US. I began as a plasterer in 1999 working on straw bale homes, began formulating lime plasters in 2005, and launched what is now Earthaus Plaster in 2018. This past year we launched Earthaus BUILD, a line of specialized plasters for natural building applications.

What most interests you about hemp and biobased construction?

I’m inspired by regenerative, biobased materials because they represent the future of building—materials that actively improve human health and the environment. Hemp, in particular, inspires me for its remarkable carbon-sequestering capacity, its ability to grow quickly in diverse climates, and how wonderfully compatible it is with lime plaster! I’m especially interested in hemp block and prefab panel systems for their potential to scale biobased building into mainstream construction.

What bottlenecks have you observed in the natural building industry and how would you solve them?

After 25 years in natural building, the biggest challenge I see is the lack of standardized materials and systems. For hemp and other bio-based methods to gain wider acceptance among mainstream builders and code officials, we need consistency and clear standards just like in conventional construction. That’s what we set out to achieve with Earthaus BUILD: standardized interior and exterior lime plaster systems for biobased and earthen construction. Our BUILD Plaster System for hempcrete is suitable for cast, block, spray, and panel applications. Each Earthaus Plaster is expertly formulated and precisely mass manufactured, available at scale, and supported with standardized mineral pigment colors, finish options, and technical documentation to ensure success from installation through long-term performance.