Dutch concrete sector wants to lead the way

Climate neutral and circular concrete by 2030

The Concrete Agreement comes with an approach to accelerate the sustainability of the concrete sector, which is also endorsed by Betonhuis and Betonvereniging. The first measures will lead to a reduction of 15%-20% of CO₂-emissions compared to 2021. A package of measures is also ready for further acceleration thereafter. The parties aim to achieve a CO₂-neutral and circular concrete sector by 2030, preferably by reducing emissions as far as possible.

"We want to be at the forefront", says Marcel Bettonvil, board member at Concrete House. "As an industry, we initially had reservations about the ambitions. We already make the most sustainable concrete in the world in the Netherlands. Is it realistic to pursue such great strides? To this we now jointly answer with a resounding yes." Dorien Staal, president of Concrete Association, adds to the response: "We want to continue to make the most sustainable concrete in the world and we want to be the global testing ground for sustainable concrete innovations. We now have an approach with which we believe we can realize our ambitions."

Step by step to climate neutral and circular

The approach to making the concrete sector climate neutral and circular consists of three steps. As a first step, with the introduction of a number of measures that are production-ready, savings of 15%-20% CO₂-emissions and a substantial increase in recycling rates will be achieved compared to 2021. Clients' procurement requirements will be adjusted accordingly.

Accelerating scale-up of innovations

The next, second step is to accelerate the scaling up of - small-scale or near-available - innovations. Market parties and clients are working together to test and validate or certify sustainable innovations on the basis of current standards or the "Concrete at Performance" guideline that will be ready by the end of 2022. The test site for sustainable concrete on the Afsluitdijk is a good example of this. There will be many more such testing grounds. Tighter requirements in tenders ensure that sustainable innovations are not priced out of the market. Clients ensure that sustainable innovations are given a place in construction projects.   

The final, third step will be market players developing disruptive innovations in consortia of companies, clients and knowledge institutions. This after 2025, to make the concrete sector take even bigger leaps in sustainability. The aim is for CO₂-neutral, full reuse of concrete residual streams and concrete elements and smart, adaptive and circular design and construction will become the standard by 2030.

Widely worn

"With these steps, the Concrete Accord implements a broad-based approach to ambitiously and rapidly make the entire concrete chain more sustainable.", states Chairman Jacqueline Cramer. "Representatives of all parties in the concrete chain were involved: from producers of precast concrete and concrete mortar to structural engineers and designers, recycling and demolition companies, sand and gravel extraction and public and private clients. This has also led Betonhuis and Concrete Association to fully endorse the chosen approach.'