The world faces major challenges – challenges that can only be overcome with good ideas and bold actions. Wienerberger is aware of its responsibilities as an international business, and is addressing the challenges of the future by providing innovative solutions, forward-looking concepts, and sustainable products.
Acknowledging corporate responsibility and providing sustainable solutions
ARCHITECTURE OF THE FUTURE
Over the course of the company’s 200-year history, Wienerberger has always strived to provide its customers with forward-looking solutions. In addition to eco-friendly building materials, the company also develops sustainable concepts and takes a holistic approach to infrastructure. In the second part of this issue of architectum, we look at ways these concepts have already been used by planners and how they have laid the foundations for the architecture of the future.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Innovative, resource-efficient, and smart products and solutions for the construction materials industry have been at the heart of Wienerberger's business for many years. With a view to counteracting climate change and the loss of biodiversity, the company has developed its own, self-imposed sustainability goals, which are captured in its Sustainability Strategy 2020+. It is based around the issues of decarbonisation, the circular economy, and biodiversity.
REDUCING, SAVING AND STORING CO2
Products and construction solutions should make a positive contribution to decarbonisation throughout their entire life cycle. This means that buildings, and the products used in their construction, should store more CO2 than is emitted during their production. To that end, Wienerberger uses technical innovations in both its production processes and its products to minimise CO2 emissions. Until the company has successfully transitioned to climate-friendly technologies, any residual greenhouse gas emissions will be offset through various climate protection schemes.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The circular economy is the only sensible alternative to the existing, linear economy. Rather than expecting materials to end up in landfill at the end of their life cycle, we can conserve resources and minimise emissions through careful planning. Wienerberger is committed to using resources efficiently and to supporting the circular economy: all products are already or expected to be fully recyclable. Wienerberger focuses on the development and optimization of dismountable, reusable products, if possible in connection with a residual value or deposit concept.
BIODIVERSITY AT SOURCE
Extracting raw materials disturbs nature and its impact must be minimised as much as possible. For every new clay pit, Wienerberger makes sure that surrounding habitats are preserved – or new ones created. In the future, Wienerberger will go another step further and take proactive measures to conserve and protect biodiversity, for example by making a positive contribution to increasing biodiversity and preserving or reinstating ecosystems in the area around clay pits.
The construction sector has a role to play in whether or not Europe succeeds in its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Wienerberger’s Sustainability Strategy 2020+ will make a significant contribution to these efforts. The buildings showcased in this edition of architectum are just some of the pioneering projects helping to pave the way to a greener future for construction materials and infrastructure.
Sustainability and circularity
Wienerberger has a long history in sustainable entrepreneurship and great ambitions to build a sustainable, circular future.
