Sustainability is more than just a trend at ERNE - it is a commitment. As part of our partnership with Oxara, we are jointly developing sustainable, CO2-reduced building materials and are involved in the MANAL project.
For me, the MANAL project is the place where theory is brought to life in practice.
Noé Stalder, Head of Corporate Development and Sustainability, ERNE AG Bauunternehmung.
New building materials for a better future
The MANAL pavilion is a proof of concept that combines sustainability and the circular economy. A central element of the project is the use of innovative, cement-free building materials based on Oxara technology. For the arches and vaults, our team used Oxabloc, cement-free clay bricks, and, for the first time outside the laboratory, an earth mortar based on Oxara's Oxabrick® Loko technology.
In order to promote sustainable construction projects, it is crucial to involve all those involved in construction at an early stage in the planning phase and to provide targeted support for young talent. In the MANAL project, we have also actively involved our apprentices in order to inspire the next generation with sustainable building practices.
The material behaves completely differently to conventional mortar when laying bricks. We first had to acquire an adapted processing technique. The advantage of the material is that it can be dissolved with water at any time and can still be worked on hours later.
Mattia Plattner Bricklayer at ERNE and member of the Swiss national team for the EuroSkills 2025 vocational championships in Denmark.
The feedback from our team is important so that Oxara can continue to develop the materials.
