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Glavbolgarstroy met with leading experts in sustainable construction in Brussels
How can an old building can be renovated without having to demolish it and how the use of "green" concrete allows the reuse of up to 30% recycled building materials in its content. These were some of the good practices that a delegation from Glavbolgarstroy exchanged with Belgian specialists during a series of meetings with leading companies and organisations in the construction sector in Brussels. The purpose of the visit was to share experiences, learn about resistant practices and promote the principles of sustainable construction in the South East Europe region.
The Astro project - a model for sustainable urban development
Representatives of Glavbolgarstroy visited the construction site and got to know in live detail the different types of activities being carried out within the ambitious Astro renovation and extension project. Led by Belgian construction company Atenor, the Astro project is a model for sustainable urban development and involves the conversion of an old office building into energy-efficient workspaces, with a complement of modern housing. The building is located in the heart of Brussels and will be renovated and extended through innovative practices in the field of selective demolition so that the facade and foundations are preserved.
The principles of selective demolition allow for the reuse and replenishment of materials, more cost-effective recycling and minimisation of the amount of final construction waste to be landfilled. These and other sustainable practices were demonstrated in the field by the Astro project managers, in addition to discussing synergies and partnership opportunities within the framework of the large-scale European research project on construction and demolition waste recycling - MOBICCON-PRO - being implemented by the Glavbolgarstroy Group.
Meeting with a leader in green concrete production
Within the framework of its visit, the delegation of Glavbolgarstroy also visited one of the largest producers of green concrete in Belgium - the company CCB Group. The representatives of the Bulgarian construction holding got acquainted with the leading technologies for the production of ecological concrete, which replaces traditional primary materials with recycled construction fractions. The use of materials with recycled content in concrete production is one of the main strategies to reduce carbon emissions and the use of primary natural resources.
Of particular importance is the fact that up to 30% recycled material can be used in the production process of green concrete instead of traditional virgin raw materials. This not only reduces the need for new natural resources, but also helps to reduce construction and demolition waste that is often dumped in landfills. The ability to recycle and reuse construction materials is an important element of building and permanently enforcing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions in the construction sector.
The talks also featured a project in Brussels, the ZIN (also known as the old World Trade Centre Brussels), where a significant part of the materials used in the reconstruction and new construction came from the partially demolished old building. According to the data presented by the experts, approximately 30 000 tonnes of construction waste were selectively collected, from which around 3 500 tonnes of high-quality materials were produced. The project demonstrates the importance of reusing resources and minimizing waste, making it an example of sustainable urban development.
A key meeting with representatives of the European and Belgian cement producers' associations
At Glavbolgarstroy's representative office in the Belgian capital, the GBS delegation also held a meeting with two key leaders in the sustainable construction sector - Mr Hervé Camerlynck, Director of the Federation of the Belgian Cement Industry (FEBELCEM) and Mr Vagner Maringolo, Director Sustainable Construction at the European Cement Manufacturers Association CEMBUREAU. During the talks, key topics such as the production of green cement, the European Union's guidelines for the transition towards sustainability and climate neutrality, and the need to strengthen dialogue between industry, administration and legislative authorities were discussed.
The meeting reinforced the role of Glavbolgarstroy as a significant partner for the South East Europe region in the field of sustainable construction and provided valuable experience for the future development of the company.