The Dutch construction industry is known for its significant impact on the environment, consuming 50% of raw materials, producing 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, efforts are being made to develop high-quality and circular applications for building materials, as well as to close the building chain.
There are many opportunities provided many knobs are turned. New materials are often still too cheap, many recycled products and materials need guarantees that they are still good or pure enough. After recovery, materials quickly acquire the status of waste and this must be removed, but this is often difficult because of the burden of proof. Subsidies and laws and regulations need to be adjusted for this. So work to be done!
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