Sustainability of geobuilding materials

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the construction industry. Since the new Circular Economy Act and its Ordinance on Public Procurement came into force, price is no longer the only decisive criterion. Factors such as sustainability, innovation content and life cycle costs must be taken into account as new award criteria when awarding construction projects.

Construction methods with geo-building materials support the demand for environmentally friendly realisation and, with their versatile application possibilities, offer ecological and economical solutions with high durability.

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You too can build on sustainability

Geobuilding materials are designed to offer a long service life of up to 100 years and therefore fulfil the requirements for a durable construction method. Their use massively reduces the environmental impact and contributes significantly to the conservation of natural and non-renewable resources.

In 2021, around 70 million m² of geobuilding materials were used instead of gravel, crushed stone and sand to improve the subsoil, stabilise the base layer and as a drainage and filter layer in the construction of transport infrastructure projects. This shows that the use of geobuilding materials is a sustainable and effective alternative for protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.

Environmental impact assessment

Our products have been tested for environmental safety in accordance with M Geok E 2016 and most of them also come with an environmental product declaration.

Geobuilding materials that are used in the ground or under water are environmentally friendly and free from microplastics and other harmful substances, provided that the storage and installation instructions are followed. They also offer protection against UV radiation and are resistant to natural acids and alkalis in the soil. Possible wear and tear due to the firm integration into the surrounding layers is also negligible. These properties make geobuilding materials an environmentally friendly alternative.

Protecting soil as a resource

The use of geobuilding materials reduces material consumption, saves excavated soil and conserves natural resources. The use of available soil material also contributes to lower resource consumption.

Significant progress was made in the use of natural raw materials in 2021: A total of 28,000,000 cubic metres were no longer mined and transported, which is an important step towards sustainability in view of their increasingly scarce availability.

In addition, the same amount of natural subsoil could remain untouched as no soil replacement was necessary. This led to an impressive reduction of over 99% in the number of lorry transports required - from around 5,000,000 to just 4,500 lorry loads.

Shortening construction times

The quick and easy installation of geocomposite materials significantly reduces construction times. Long-lasting infrastructure restrictions and increased emissions due to diversions can thus be avoided.

Reduction of transports

Transporting building materials is cost-intensive and pollutes the environment. Saving material by using geobuilding materials significantly reduces the amount of site transport for excavation and disposal or delivery and installation of replacement material, for example.

In 2021, the amount of microplastic particles from tyre abrasion was reduced by more than 98% thanks to the significant reduction in transport. Only 4 tonnes remain from the previous 250 tonnes. The environmental impact of CO₂ was also reduced by over 98% from approx. 140,000 tonnes to approx. 2,500 tonnes.

Durability

With their long service life (up to 120 years depending on the building material), geobuilding materials contribute to a long service life and the sustainability of buildings. Refurbishment intervals are significantly extended and long-term refurbishment costs are reduced.

Studies prove: ecological and economic benefits of geobuilding materials

Geobuilding materials are an ecologically and economically favourable option, as a large number of studies have shown.

In four studies, independent institutes have proven the positive effects of geobuilding materials on the ecological balance and economic efficiency compared to other mineral building materials.

Comparison of construction methods (WRAP study)

Description	Original construction method	Geosynthetic construction	CO₂ reduction
Protective wall	Rock material and gabions	Reinforced earth with localised soils	89%
Traffic dam	Rock material	Reinforced earth with localised soils	30%
Retaining wall	Reinforced concrete retaining wall	Rear-hinged room grille wall	70%
Retaining wall	Reinforced concrete retaining wall	Retaining wall system with modular blocks	57%
Retaining wall	Sheet pile wall	Retaining wall system with modular blocks	80%
Retaining wall	Drainage with hollow concrete blocks	Drainage with geocomposite	28%

Further information on request

Comparison of construction methods (EAGM study)

Description	Construction method	Ergebnisse
Filter system underneath a traffic route	Filter system with mineral gravel filter. Filter system with geosynthetics	85% reduction in general environmental impact I 85% reduction in energy consumption I 89% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
Soil stabilisation of a road substructure	Conventional structure without stabilisation. Geosynthetic-reinforced structure. Soil stabilisation with cement/lime	5-10% reduction in general environmental impact I 85% reduction in energy consumption I 89% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
Drainage layer in the landfill surface sealing	Mineral drainage layer. Geosynthetic drainage layer	>50% reduction in general environmental impact I 56% reduction in energy consumption I 67% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
Retaining structures	Concrete retaining wall I Geosynthetic-reinforced retaining structure	52-87% reduction in general environmental impact I 75% reduction in energy consumption I 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

Further information on request

Sustainable geobuilding materials in use

Green instead of grey - GREEN TERRAMESH

Biodiversity is dwindling rapidly. This problematic development is being felt globally and also affects Germany. It is essential that we take care to preserve and increase species diversity and biodiversity in order to ensure successful food production in the long term. These challenges are of crucial importance for our future.

Bees, wild bees and other insects are indispensable for pollinating wild and cultivated plants and thus securing harvests. They are also an important part of the environment and biodiversity. The reasons for the decline in insect populations are complex and have not yet been fully researched. However, factors such as sealing and the development of land for industry, infrastructure and housing play a key role.

In order to overcome the current challenges of climate change and environmental protection, it is essential to rely on sustainable and ecological solutions. The GREEN TERRAMESH system solution shows how slope stabilisation and land expansion can contribute to environmental protection.

GREEN TERRAMESH the green alternative to grey angled retaining walls - a comparison

Concrete structures have a considerable ecological footprint, whether due to the high consumption of resources during production or the release of greenhouse gases. Green surfaces, on the other hand, offer a sustainable alternative by reducing the environmental impact and conserving natural resources. Compared to an angled retaining wall, GREEN TERRAMESH not only offers advantages in terms of stability, construction time and costs, but also fulfils the environmental aspect. This is because GREEN TERRAMESH makes it possible to use resources more efficiently, reduce CO₂ emissions in the construction industry and minimise energy consumption.