Circular economy in construction: from excavation to building material
When building the new technology center in Laufenburg for the FlexBase Group, we consistently focused on sustainable construction. This approach is already evident in the excavation: around 400,000 m³ of sandy and gravelly material is extracted and reused as a valuable raw material. The project illustrates how modern recycling management can be successfully implemented in the construction industry.
High-quality excavated material as a raw material for concrete and gravel
A large proportion of the excavated material is of such high quality that it is ideal for concrete and gravel production. In the regional processing plant of our subsidiary Kies + Beton Münchwilen AG, the material is washed and screened, whereby organic components are removed and precise grain sizes are produced. The resulting sand and gravel fractions meet the highest standards and are used directly in concrete production.
Even less suitable components such as Nagelfluh are not disposed of, but processed into building materials for road construction and civil engineering using modern screening and crushing plants. As a result, almost all of the excavated material is put to good use and the amount of waste is reduced to a minimum.
Short transportation routes strengthen the carbon footprint and the region
Another key advantage is the short transportation routes between the construction site and the processing plant. This reduces fuel consumption, lowers CO₂ emissions and strengthens regional value creation at the same time. Around 100,000 m³ of the processed material ultimately returns to the construction site in the form of concrete and is reused directly in the project.
This creates an almost closed material cycle: Excavated material is processed, refined and reused as a high-quality building material. The TZL project thus impressively demonstrates how ecological responsibility and economic efficiency can be successfully combined in the construction industry. It sends out a strong signal for sustainable construction in the region.
