Statement by Dr. Stephan Anders (DGNB) on the panel discussion “The Future of Paving Construction”
When discussing the future of paving construction, we must be honest: the way concrete paving is predominantly used today poses an ecological problem. The combination of a high carbon footprint due to cement-bound products, high resource requirements, and large-scale sealing means that paved areas in many cities and municipalities have a negative impact on the climate, the environment, and resources. Despite these issues, paving has a future - but only if we rethink it:
1. Recyclability as standard: Truly sustainable paving systems must be reusable multiple times. This means: single-type, dismantlable, documented, with standardized take-back and recycling processes. Business models are needed that view dismantling as a resource rather than waste.
2. New functions instead of just surface area: In the future, paved areas must actively contribute to climate and water management: infiltration, filtration, evaporation, cooling. This is not a “nice to have,” but a prerequisite for climate-resilient cities. Existing systems show that this is technically possible – but they are still marginal in their application.
3. CO₂ reduction through alternative binders and recycled materials: The use of high-quality recycled aggregates and cement-reduced formulations must quickly become the industry standard.
4. Life cycle instead of product thinking: From the DGNB’s point of view, it is clear that the evaluation of a paving stone must not end with its manufacture. Service life, maintenance requirements, damage patterns under real conditions of use, and end-of-life must be considered equally. This often results in advantages, but not automatically—they only arise when planning, execution, and material quality are in harmony.
5. Demolition, documentation, and digital material passports: Paving is ideal as a demonstration field for genuine circular economy in outdoor spaces. Digital product passports, take-back systems, and reuse could be introduced here more quickly than in many other areas of construction.
Conclusion: Concrete paving only has a future if we break it free from today’s linear logic and transform it into a recyclable, function-oriented, and CO₂-reduced system. No longer: “How do we build paved areas efficiently?” but rather: “How do paved areas actively contribute to climate resilience, resource transition, and urban ecology?”
If we take this change in perspective seriously, paving construction can be more than just a traditional building product. It can become an instrument of sustainable transformation—in both existing and new buildings.
I look forward to the discussion.
