The construction sector in Flanders (Belgium) has launched the first ‘Concrete Agreement’ to promote the concept of low-emission concrete. This is a major step to help reduce CO2 emission related to the use of concrete, thanks to circular principles and the use of sustainable or recycled materials.
This new agreement fits within ‘Vlaanderen Circulair’, a Flemish partnership to promote circular economy in Flanders and is supported by Groen Beton Vert (GBV), Buildwise, the Association of demolition, dismantling and recycling companies (VSOR), Fedbeton, and Embuild Flanders.
A first final version of the Flemish Concrete agreement has been finalised after two years of intense preparation, including studying aspects linked to selective demolition and the requirement of circular concrete. BESIX (and BESIX Infra via GBV) were part of the steering committee and transition group of the initiative which led to the Flemish Concrete Agreement.
Every company or stakeholder active in the concrete supply chain can sign this agreement. Koen De Mey, Director Procurement Europe, and Thierry Huberland, Global Category Manager Concrete and Civil Works, were present on 6 December in Bruges (Belgium) to sign the agreement in the name of BESIX and BESIX Infra, during the announcement event ‘Green Deal Circulair Bouwen’ to which BESIX is a signatory party, showing BESIX’s commitment, as a building contractor, in this major sustainability cause.
Why a ‘concrete agreement’?
Concrete is the most widely used building material worldwide and that because of its intrinsic qualities such as its long lifespan, very low maintenance, fire safety, and easy architectural adaptability, among others. Consequently, its environmental impact is also considerable.
This is at two levels. First, because of the use of primary raw materials (aggregates, building sand, clinker, etc. Secondly, due to the CO2 emissions in the production of the components and in the production of concrete. Clinker-based cement production accounts for no less than 5-8% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and around 3.5% at the Belgian level.
Commitment of the concrete sector
Society is increasingly aware of the issues of global warming, through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (including CO2)) on the one hand and the use of materials on the other, while the availability of construction sand being problematic.
That is why numerous initiatives are taken for this cause, like the Flemish concrete agreement, or the European Green Deal, which sets the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55%, compared to 1990, by 2030 and 95% levels by 2050. In addition, by 2030, the design of buildings and civil engineering works should provide that concrete elements can be maximally reused or functions inside the building can be maximally adapted. Furthermore, there will no longer be any substances in buildings that prevent recycling.
The concrete sector therefore wishes to be 100% committed to helping realise these ambitions, especially as concrete will certainly remain an important building material in the future because of the qualities already mentioned above. In both the design and execution of its projects, the competence centre ‘Sustainability’ of BESIX’s Engineering department, offers support both in carbon reduction strategies as well as in circular materials and practices.