Production
Less waste, more reuse
Concrete is an important resource in Denmark. That is why it must not go to waste.
For CRH Denmark, this naturally means that we go to great lengths to use all the concrete we produce. This is done through the Zero Waste project, which we have developed in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute.
Up to two per cent of production ends up as residual waste, as it is left over from the casting process at the factory. A large proportion of this quantity is reused in subsequent castings — whether for foundations, hollow core slabs or partition walls. We do this in order to conserve raw materials.
At the same time, it is important to emphasise that using recycled concrete as a key element does not make the finished construction more expensive or less stable.
We have already come a long way. But we are of course not stopping there.
Optimising the use of concrete
We are continuously developing new ideas and new products to optimise the use of our raw materials. Here too, we are at the forefront — for example, we are currently developing a new type of concrete in which we reduce the amount of cement in the mix.
It is not about using as much concrete as possible. It is about using it correctly. We therefore continuously work on solutions in our construction and production processes that reduce the amount of concrete without compromising on strength and safety.
We are also part of the consortium behind n3xtcon.dk, which is developing 3D concrete for smaller and more specialised applications. The technology is still relatively new, but the outlook is particularly interesting — not least because 3D printing can be done with extreme precision and can be adapted and tailored to more individual expressions. And the process takes place — again — with virtually no waste.