An increasing number of organisations certified on the CO₂ Performance Ladder are embracing circularity. One of them is Dura Vermeer, one of the largest construction companies in the Netherlands. Circularity is one of the key strategies for achieving their CO₂ reduction targets: 50% reduction by 2030 and 90% by 2050, compared to the baseline year 2022. Eldar Biro shows how Dura Vermeer applies circular practices using, among other tools, a materials marketplace and circular hubs.
Circularity applies to both materials and machinery, says Eldar Biro, sustainability advisor at Dura Vermeer. ‘When it comes to materials, the focus is especially on reusing asphalt, concrete, and steel. These are high-emission materials, so circular use can have a major impact. We also work extensively with sustainable materials made from renewable resources, such as concrete slabs with elephant grass or embankment materials made from biobased materials instead of plastic.’
Dura Vermeer is also increasingly focusing on circularity in its equipment. ‘For example, we’ve replaced the diesel engines in our asphalt machines with batteries, so they now run electrically. This reduces CO₂ emissions during use and avoids further emissions by not having to purchase new machines’, Biro explains.
To maximise circular practices, Dura Vermeer uses the DuSpot platform. According to Biro, this is a marketplace for the construction and infrastructure sectors: ‘DuSpot can be used in two ways. You can offer materials that are left over from a project, but also search for materials you need. For example, you enter that you need 100 square meters of concrete paving, and you’ll be matched with a party offering that. Then you contact them to discuss details like pricing and transport.’
Dura Vermeer uses DuSpot both as a supplier and a buyer. Given it’s not always possible to use recovered materials immediately, the company has set up several circular hubs. ‘These function as depots where we store materials’, Biro says. ‘One hub contains concrete slabs, sewer pipes, and paving materials, while another mainly stores wood. We try to use these materials in our own construction projects, but sometimes we also sell them to other parties.’
In the Northwest Netherlands region, where Biro is active, there are currently two hubs in operation and a third under construction. ‘Thanks to the reuse of materials stored in these two hubs, we achieved an 80-tonne CO₂ reduction in the first five months of 2025. That’s equivalent to the savings from using an electric crane for 235 days. So when it comes to emission reduction, material reuse achieves significantly more than using zero-emission equipment.’
One project where Dura Vermeer used DuSpot was in the construction of a circular roundabout. ‘The roundabout was located in Hardenberg and was offered by contractor NTP. Since the roundabout was still intact, we bought it and stored it in one of our hubs. I initially thought it would stay there for a few years, but we quickly found a new destination: Almere. We will reinstall the roundabout in its original form. We just need to carry out a few minor repairs on the concrete elements.’
Another notable circular project, according to Biro, was the relocation of a concrete bridge from Amsterdam to the village of Schalkwijk in Utrecht: ‘We had some leftover wood from another project in Purmerend, which we used for the railings, creating a refurbished bridge. After a few adjustments to ensure everything fit well, we installed the bridge in Schalkwijk. We also recently installed a bridge from Artis Zoo at another location in Amsterdam.’
According to Biro, virtually all materials released during projects can be reused. ‘The main point of attention is quality. Minor repairs are fine, but if the quality of the material is too poor, we can’t use it. Quantity also plays a role. If you’re paving a street, for example, you want a complete batch of pavers. If half the street is paved with new stones and the other half with old ones, you’ll see a visible colour difference, which is undesirable.’
In some projects, client requirements also play a role in the choice for circularity, Biro says. ‘Our policy is ‘circular, unless’. In most cases, this means we use reused materials in our projects. But sometimes a client indicates they don’t want that. In those cases, we look for alternatives, such as sustainably produced materials.’
When a client demands new materials, Dura Vermeer always starts a conversation. ‘We demonstrate that high-quality second-hand products or materials are also available. In some cases, the client will then drop their requirement. We continue to advocate for this, even after a second or third discussion. The advantage is that our portfolio of successful examples is expanding, which really helps in these conversations. The more success stories we have, the easier it becomes to convince someone.’
Picture: BruggenArchitectuur
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