"In this way, we too are doing our part for a more sustainable world."

Fully circular concrete slabs

Every day Zwaagstra Beton produces fifteen hundred concrete slabs of first-class quality. To do so, the Hoogeveen-based company uses only secondary raw materials, avoiding unnecessary extraction of new raw materials. "An ultimate example of circular economy."

For 100%, all concrete slabs produced by Zwaagstra Beton consist of recycled materials, such as ECO granulate, ECO sand and ECO gravel: secondary raw materials acquired from cleaned tar asphalt. "It couldn't be more sustainable," says account manager André Veerkamp of Zwaagstra Beton. "They are beautiful, high-quality products and they are always available. Moreover, because of the reuse of raw materials, no new sand and gravel have to be extracted. An ultimate example of circular economy. In this way, we too are doing our bit for a more sustainable world."

Thermal cleaning

Zwaagstra Beton buys the ECO raw materials from Recycling Kombinatie REKO in Rotterdam. Veerkamp: "REKO removes the harmful substances from tar Asphalt by heating it to very high temperatures. This is called thermal cleaning. The toxic tar burns off and what remains are clean, high-quality raw materials: ECO granulate, ECO sand and ECO gravel. From these secondary raw materials we make new concrete slabs again. So our slabs are completely circular."

REKO's raw materials are transported by ship from the Port of Rotterdam to Meppel. There they are then transported by trucks to Zwaagstra Beton's factory in Hoogeveen. "There is continuous driving between Meppel and Hoogeveen," explains Veerkamp. "This is also necessary because we produce about fifteen hundred concrete slabs a day."

Streaked concrete slabs

Zwaagstra Beton's concrete slabs are available in various designs and sizes and with different top layers. The buzzed concrete slab is one of the bestsellers. It is buzzed immediately after pouring, giving it an extra rough top layer and providing a lot of grip. This makes this slab, which is also available as a corner slab, very suitable for footpaths and storage areas, among other things. Veerkamp: "Our brushed concrete slabs are available in thicknesses of 14, 16 and even 20 centimeters, because the demand for thicker concrete slabs is increasing. Construction traffic is getting heavier and heavier and the slabs are having to endure more and more. Our 20-centimeter thick concrete slabs have an axle load of 40 tons and can withstand this extremely well."