THEO POUW GROUP

In 2018, the Theo Pouw Group opened a sustainable concrete plant in Almere, where recycled concrete rubble and plant fibres, among others, are used to produce new concrete. With this sustainable concrete, a 'green cycle path' was realised in Almere in 2019. Alexander Pouw: 'We are constantly looking at how we can make the chain more sustainable. Downcycling is such a huge waste! By giving released waste materials a second or third life, we need fewer primary building materials. And if you source the materials to be recycled from the region, you also save considerably on transport costs and the additional CO2 emissions. So a win-win situation.'

Cementless concrete

The principle of circular construction is also applied to the Beaver Bridge and the Round Weerwater Bridge, which contractor Reimert Bouw is currently building on the Floriade site. The two circular bridges are largely made of materials from waste streams in Almere. What makes the bridges especially unique is the use of cementless concrete, produced by Theo Pouw Group. Alexander: 'Unlike traditional concrete, this so-called geopolymer concrete does not contain cement, but other binding agents. Also, half of the primary substances sand and gravel have been replaced by secondary raw materials. All materials come from Almere and its surroundings. All this together results in a substantial CO2 reduction.'

Meanwhile, Theo Pouw Group's cementless concrete is KOMO-certified and may also be used in the structural parts of bridges. Incidentally, an extensive test period preceded this, Alexander explains. 'Very pleasant, but also quite special, was that Kiwa worked closely with us in this process and gave us plenty of support.' According to Alexander, legislation is not infrequently an impeding factor in this kind of innovation. 'As a sustainable entrepreneur, I do sometimes find that demotivating. Don't get me wrong: laws, regulations and certifications are necessary. But when, as an
entrepreneur with an innovative idea, all you hear are reasons why something is not possible, just because we are not used to anything else, then I always say: let's look for a solution to make it possible.

Overcoming cold feet

Cooperation in the chain and trust are essential in this kind of project, Alexander believes. 'Pilot projects are always needed to show that something works. But people on the shop floor also need to be behind it, because ultimately it has to happen outside.' This is another reason why he views the Floriade bridges project very positively. 'We are all going for it: both the client, the builder and the producer. We are really doing this together.' In that respect, Almere is a good example of how things can be done differently, he thinks. 'The municipality actively encourages entrepreneurs to develop circular initiatives.

For instance, by not only looking at the lowest bidder in tenders, but also taking sustainability into account. As a result, things can actually change in Almere. Over the next few years, thousands of bridges, tunnels and viaducts in the Netherlands are due for replacement. Alexander: 'This project shows that the greatest environmental gain can be achieved by using circular materials. Moreover, in the long term, this will also become increasingly interesting from a cost perspective. We are confident that with the Floriade bridges we can break through any cold feet among other builders and clients.'

The Theo Pouw Group is not lacking in ambitions anyway. 'We want to further expand building with cementless concrete in the coming years and apply it in larger volumes. Next year, we are going to run a pilot with the first hydrogen-powered concrete mixers in Groningen and Utrecht. We are also working on a hydrogen ship. If necessary, we can transport primary raw materials emission-free using that ship. In short, there is still plenty of work to be done.'

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