Construction is becoming more future-proof

We're preparing for future-proof construction. While the industry and the government wrangle over an additional CO2 tax, work is underway on the first CO2-neutral dike reinforcement project in the Netherlands along the Meuse River. Thanks to CO2 pricing. The external costs of negative impacts are increasingly being taken into account in construction projects, and certainly not without reason. According to research agency CE Delft provides a clear answerIn 2018, poor air quality cost the average resident of a European city €1,250. These insights are immediately reflected in a shift in product demand.

The nitrogen problems are driving the transition to electric and cleaner equipment in construction is gaining momentum. Builders are willing, and where clients encourage this, progress is already being made. An initiative by Dutch companies and governments to purchase circular products, has generated €300 million in circular investments in three years. A new subsidy scheme can ensuring that insulation becomes affordable for everyone.

These developments demonstrate that the market for more future-proof construction is developing rapidly!

Featured: Circular Raw Materials Cluster South Holland Report

By 2040, 230,000 homes must be built in the Southern Randstad. This task requires enormous quantities of building materials annually, such as concrete and asphalt. At the same time, there is a target to be 100% circular by 2050. Therefore, it is important that homes are built as much as possible with materials that have the lowest possible Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI).

Towards a Circular Raw Materials Cluster

Linking the circular transition challenge and the housing challenge can accelerate and strengthen the results of both challenges. Creating a Circular Raw Materials Cluster (CGC) in which raw materials are processed, developed, and deployed in a circular manner could potentially play a key role. Furthermore, a CGC offers opportunities for experimentation and innovation. This can take the form of high-quality processing of materials from the Urban Mine, derived from construction, demolition, and renovation residual flows. It can also facilitate developments and innovation in the concrete, asphalt, and waste industries.

New Economy and Stec Groep have developed an initial version of a spatial and economic model on behalf of the Bouwcampus and the Versteelijkingsalliantie. Read the full report here.

PS. 

The Ex'tax Project and ABN AMRO, with support from the Goldschmeding Foundation, are currently conducting research into a tax shift from labor to raw materials in construction. They are eager to hear from entrepreneurs and managers about how the tax system can support their sustainable and circular approach: highly relevant for companies in our sector! If colleagues or partners in the construction industry would like to support this initiative, signing remains possible. www.belastingbeurtvoordebouw.nl.