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Higher energy prices, low river levels complicating the supply of raw materials, the tight labor market: some of the challenges facing the concrete industry. The biggest challenge facing the industry, however, is sustainability. "The paving industry is aware of the importance of meeting the climate goals," said Taco van den Broek, secretary of Betonhuis Bestratingen. "Across the industry, initiatives are being taken to reduce CO2-emissions and increase circularity. And that can be done in a variety of ways."
One such way is to reduce the cement content in concrete. "By using alternative binders, you need to use less or even no cement at all in concrete. This is already being used in the industry on a number of products. Pavement products are generally of unreinforced concrete, which makes the use of alternative binders easier. After all, there is no need to consider structural safety over a longer period of time or wait for the type of concrete to be included in an attestation."
Another way is to use recycled materials in the paving materials. "This can save on raw materials. Today, percentages of 30 percent or more of secondary material can be used in concrete. Even cleaned gravel from asphalt is used today in the production of paving materials."
A CO2-reduction can also be achieved by looking differently at the application of paving materials. "Often you have a sidewalk of more than 1.5 meters on either side of a street. However, you may wonder if such a wide sidewalk is necessary on both sides, especially when there is a green strip next to the sidewalk. By making the sidewalk slightly less wide, fewer stones and tiles need to be used. That also means a substantial reduction in CO2. But reusing paving materials is also on the rise. By giving used paving a second and even third life, you make the best use of existing tiles, clinkers and stones. Developments in this area are continuing."
Opting for a different type of paving is also an option. "The petrification of cities and higher temperatures increase the risk of heat stress. Anyone walking in a city on a summer day can already notice the heat effect now. Municipalities would do well to start greening now. Besides heat stress, in the future we will also have to deal with heavier showers, where a lot of precipitation falls in a short period of time. To adapt to this change, we must ensure that our built-up and rural areas are climate-proof and water-robust. Cities must also be climate-adapted. The paving sector offers various solutions for this. Consider permeable and water-passive paving. Water can seep past these stones into the ground. Grass concrete blocks are also a great solution for this, especially for parking lots that are not used as intensively. At several office buildings, some parking spaces are empty most of the week. By applying grass concrete blocks here, you kill two birds with one stone: you ensure that the water can drain more easily, and you provide greening."
The use of grass concrete blocks is obvious, of course, but grass can also be sown in the crevices with level paving. It all just looks nice and fresh and green. The growth of the grass is limited only by the traffic, from pedestrians to cars, passing over it. But there is more, according to Van den Broek. "You can, of course, very easily make flower beds on plazas with concrete edges on which you can sit. In the various school squares, green infill is already often designed. Placing trees also makes sense. Do you still know them the old avenues with trees? This requires a modification of the paving so that rainwater can easily reach the roots of the tree. To give the trees enough space, various specials (special products) are available in the industry."
The companies affiliated with Betonhuis Bestrating are actively engaged in nature-inclusive and climate-adaptive construction. Sustainability is not only worked on with products. But the industry is also active in providing transparency to clients who value sustainability. With various assessment guidelines and certification programs, the industry is working on transparency to show that we produce in an environmentally friendly, sustainable and responsible manner. To this end, Betonhuis has developed a BRL KL11002. "With the introduction of this Assessment Guideline 'Gendering of Environmental Profiles for Concrete Infra Products', clients in the GWW sector will have a practical, uniform assessment in their hands. That which, for example, a municipality prescribes in terms of environmental profiles for concrete pavers, concrete tiles, concrete tires, grass concrete tiles, sewers and concrete mortar will actually be delivered to that municipality on the construction site."
