Betondag (concrete day)

At Concrete Day 2022, organized by the Belgian Concrete Group, Hans Mostmans, Innovation Manager at CRH Group, gave a workshop titled “Circular and Sustainable, from the Practice of the Prefab Producer.” This workshop focused on the increasing demand for circular and sustainable solutions within the prefab construction sector.

During the workshop, he discussed how CRH actively responds to market needs by researching and implementing various sustainable initiatives. Some of these initiatives include recycling their own waste, achieving the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification, and developing new binders. These efforts aim to reduce the environmental impact of their products and processes.

A significant part of the presentation was the life cycle analysis (LCA) of their prefab elements. He emphasized that circular construction is not an end in itself but a means to reduce and measure the environmental impact of buildings. He discussed the challenges and opportunities of reusing materials within current regulations, where they have gained experience with recycling in their own processes.

Additionally, he discussed the “Road to Net Zero” and the opportunities identified by the Global Cement and Concrete Association. He also presented their C2C Silver certified elements, which they supply to projects like ZIN, and how these contribute to the sustainability of their products.

Finally, he provided an overview of ongoing and future initiatives within CRH, including collaborations with research institutions, the further rollout of ISO14001 environmental management systems, and the development of CarbIP, a patented facade system by CRH that improves insulation and can be fully applied in a circular manner. These initiatives underscore their commitment to sustainability and innovation in the prefab construction sector.