Dura Vermeer and C2CA reduce CO2 emissions from concrete through innovative upcycling of concrete rubble 

A new joint venture between Dura Vermeer and C2CA will build a plant that is estimated to achieve an annual CO2 reduction of 30,000 tons by upcycling concrete rubble. In addition to recovered gravel and sand, the innovative process produces a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) that can serve as a substitute for cement in the production of new concrete. The fact that Dura Vermeer and C2CA also provide their own activation of this ultra-fine cement fraction is unique in the construction industry. The first new plant in the Rotterdam region can process 150,000 tons of concrete rubble per year. The company will thus become the supplier of circular concrete raw materials for new concrete projects in the Netherlands. The plant is expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2025. 

Pieter Niemantsverdriet, director at Dura Vermeer, is immensely proud of the collaboration. "Dura Vermeer has a clear goal in mind: halving CO2 emissions by 2030 and zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Circular construction is an important solution direction with which we can make a real impact. So the long-term partnership with C2CA is a big step toward Net Zero, not only for our own projects, but for the entire construction industry. Also, important innovations like this underline the role of the Netherlands as a sustainable innovation country." 

CEO of C2CA Thomas Petithuguenin adds: "To meet the climate goals, it is important to take real steps now. The biggest CO2 savings within our industry can be achieved by providing alternatives to primary cement. And that is what we are doing. We are very pleased to have found in Dura Vermeer a solid partner to realize our joint ambitions." 

Emissions in perspective  

The cement industry is responsible for 7 percent of global CO2 emissions (source: World Cement Association, 2023) and in the Netherlands, the construction sector consumes half of all raw materials. Moreover, the sector is responsible for about 40 percent of energy consumption and one-third of total CO2 emissions. Since almost half of all building materials are concrete, the sector's contribution to climate goals and emission reduction is of great importance. Currently, only 5 percent of concrete rubble is recycled at a significant level (source: Concrete House, 2022), with the majority being relegated to low-level reuse. In the process, conventional concrete recycling methods do not produce a partial cement substitute (SCM), which means that reuse in new concrete now hardly leads to CO2 reduction. 

Innovative upcycling process

With Dura Vermeer and C2CA's new plant, it can. The upcycling process begins with the intake of clean concrete rubble. This rubble is meticulously processed into original fractions of gravel, sand and cement stone flour. The recycled cementstone flour is activated into a reactive binder (SCM) in the final processing stage. The circular concrete raw materials are then supplied to concrete producers to produce circular concrete with a much lower CO2 impact.

About Dura Vermeer and C2CA

Dura Vermeer is a family business that has existed since 1855. Dura Vermeer is committed to creating safe, healthy and fair living environments, made for and by people. The developing builder involves the entire chain. By entering into innovative partnerships, the company continuously works on sustainable solutions that add up to zero emissions in 2050.