The Dutch construction industry is known for its significant impact on the environment, consuming 50% of raw materials, generating 40% of waste and causing 40% of total energy consumption. Moreover, this sector contributes 35% of CO2 emissions and uses 30% of the total water consumption in the Netherlands. Although a significant portion of construction and demolition waste (97%) is reused, it is mainly in low-grade applications, such as foundation material in road construction. In The Green Heart, the aim is to develop high-quality and circular applications for building materials, as well as to close the building chain.
There are many opportunities provided that many knobs will be turned. New materials are often still too cheap, many reused products and materials need guarantees that they are still good or pure enough. Materials quickly gain waste status after recovery, and that needs to be gotten rid of, but is often difficult because of the burden of proof. Subsidies and laws and regulations must be adapted for this purpose. So work to be done!
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