From sand to concrete block and back again
Our circular economy
With innovative strength, it is possible to produce recyclable, sustainable concrete block products.
Our vision of a waste-free circular economy dates back to the 1980s. Since then, we have developed many processes and measures to optimize the use and conservation of resources. Starting with the extraction and use of raw materials, through to the production and dismantling of products. Since 2021, our family-owned company has been awarded the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold - the first concrete block company in the world to do so.
Our commitment to establishing a genuine circular economy is an integral part of our corporate culture and has grown steadily and organically over the years. We always think holistically and consider how we can keep our materials in closed cycles. In doing so, we follow nature's example, because nature knows no waste.
Cradle to Cradle certification assesses the recyclability of products and rethinks production processes. Cradle to Cradle literally means 'from the cradle to the cradle'. Valuable raw materials should not be wasted, but reused indefinitely. The premise is that products should be 100% recyclable after use and can be reused as raw materials in a completely environmentally friendly way.
In order to reduce the need for primary raw materials, we have been replacing natural raw materials with high-quality recycled chippings and sand since 1981. Since then, we have been processing production-related concrete waste ourselves and using the unmixed recycled material for the production of our core concrete. The standard proportion added to many products is around 5%. With the introduction of GRC50 (GODELMANN Recycling Concrete), we have launched a block on the market with a recycled content of 50%.
Optimized formulas and our decades of experience guarantee a recycled concrete block of the best GODELMANN quality. With the old paving return system introduced in 2007, we involve our customers in the concrete recycling cycle. Instead of having to dispose of the paving at a landfill site, they can hand it in to us. The stones are crushed in the company's own specially developed recycling plant and used as recycled sand and recycled chippings in the subsequent production process.
Thanks to the continuous use of GRC material, we have been able to save around 1,000,000 tons of new raw materials to date.
For 30 years, numerous water collection basins and treatment plants have ensured a closed water cycle. These collect rainwater and process water all year round, which is then treated and fed into the production process. Thanks to the sophisticated water cycle in concrete block production, we keep drinking water consumption to 0%. As a result, we save over 36,800m3 of this valuable resource every year.