Éric Bond is the founder of EnviroZone, a design firm specializing in free-standing green systems.

In anticipation of the upcoming 12th Novae Field Trip, taking place on December 9th in Envirozone’s Montreal office on Fullum Street, we met with this entrepreneur who is helping to improve people’s lives, one green wall at a time.

How did Envirozone come about?

I have two passions in life: cabinetmaking and plants. In 2003, I started playing with the idea of combining the two. First, I made objects out of plants, which eventually led me to green walls, long before anyone was talking about them. Then in 2013, I met Joel [Kucer, now a partner in Envirozone], who wanted to install a green wall at his company. We hit it off right away because we have similar values, so we decided to join forces. His experience in industrial design has been key, allowing us to grow the business to where it is today.

EnviroZone is helping to improve people’s lives, one green wall at a time

What does Envirozone offer?

Our primary offering is our indoor green walls. They are the core of our offer, around which our other products and services revolve. In addition to our indoor and outdoor green walls, we design and install green roofs and terraces, indoor agricultural systems and decorative creations made from preserved plants. We also offer consulting services in green systems for buildings, as well as industrial design services and customized integration systems for the built environment. What’s interesting is that our clients often contact us initially about a green wall, and then end up redoing their terrace or exterior. We turn the aspects of architects’ plans related to green systems into reality – few teams have the expertise we’ve developed over the years.

What’s specific about your approach?

After several years of researching and experimenting, we’ve perfected a hydroponic wick system that mimics life in a tropical forest. We select hardy species and plant them in our structures based on their tolerance to humidity and light, as well as any symbiotic relationships that develop between them. This is why our green walls are “self-regulating” and regenerate naturally. They’re also not only sustainable, but easy to maintain. Each one is custom-designed to flourish in the client’s specific environment while meeting their functional and esthetic priorities.

Envirozone’s green walls are “self-regulating” and regenerate naturally

You’re hosting the next Novae Field Trip on December 9th. What can participants expect to learn during the visit?

We’re going to show how we work, and explain our values and vision. They’ll get a chance to see some green walls, learn more about this field, and discover some new plant species, all while getting a glimpse into how we improve people’s living conditions. It’s going to be much more than an introduction; they’ll be fully immersed in our world! We’re also working on a few surprises for this special occasion.

The Novae Field Trip to Envirozone will take place on Friday, December 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To sign up, click here.