New eco label for civil engineering
The supplier Sytec is coming onto the market with its own eco-label for civil engineering. According to the company, the focus is on construction that is as environmentally friendly and resource-saving as possible. In recent years, this has led to numerous innovative and sustainable products and systems. For this reason, the company has created its own sustainability label - also with regard to the new award criteria for public sector tenders.
All Sytec products and systems that make a significant contribution to sustainable construction in one or more respects would be awarded the Syteco label starting this year. Building owners, planning offices and construction companies that promote and demand sustainable construction would thus receive valuable decision-making aids.
Buildings, especially infrastructure structures such as traffic routes, are always interventions in nature. In the choice of technology and the building materials used, the
The new system offers the opportunity to take into account the various factors of sustainability.
What criteria?
The label criteria for sustainability are:
Reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions: A lot of fossil energy is consumed for the extraction of raw materials, transport, application on the construction site, maintenance and dismantling of structures. The processes involved in the production of concrete cement are particularly problematic. Thus, the construction industry is responsible to a considerable extent for CO2 emissions.
Avoid heavy-duty transportation: The transport of heavy construction materials is cost-intensive, pollutes the environment and the road network. By reducing the consumption of gravel and concrete, many transports can be avoided.
Shorten construction time: Construction sites require expensive labor and equipment. The shorter the construction period, the more cost-efficient construction can be. In traffic route construction in particular, innovative construction techniques can avoid long-term construction sites and increase the availability of infrastructure.
Improve biodiversity: It is also possible to contribute to biodiversity in civil engineering. For example, a vegetated supporting structure or a stone basket provide new habitats for endangered flora and fauna. Erosion protection systems or facilities for the protection of amphibians are also contributions to the preservation of biodiversity.
Increase useful life: With innovative materials and construction techniques, rehabilitation intervals can be significantly extended, especially for roads and railroads.
Ensure material cycle: Sometimes needs change and even long-lasting structures are deconstructed. Therefore, it makes sense to use materials that are either biodegradable without residues or can be recycled.
Aesthetics and acceptance: Structures are not only evaluated according to their function. They change the landscape and thus our habitat in the long term. Beautiful buildings or those that are not even recognizable as a building are more likely to be accepted by the population and thus remain longer.
Label for sustainable products and systems
The aspects of sustainability require that the factors of transport, energy consumption, construction time or service life are included as well as biodiversity, material cycle, function and aesthetics, according to the supplier. For every product or system with the Syteco label, there is a corresponding description on the Company website retrievable.
Source: Sytec
