Own 'Decision' is necessary step in making construction more sustainable

In September, Ballast Nedam Development launched its so-called proprietary "Decree," analogous to the Building Code. Its contents include stricter standards for energy, health, mobility, nature inclusiveness, climate adaptivity and circularity. The 'Decree' also announces that the company purchases exclusively vegetarian and sees electric driving as the new norm. CEO Onno Dwars: "We need to initiate these steps as a company ourselves for more cross-pollination in the chain, and feel that the market is ready for it."

In the links of the building chain surrounding the real estate developer, Dwars has already seen good signs recently. "Investors and investors are well on their way in setting higher sustainability requirements, as are many municipalities, such as Amersfoort. However, that is not enough; we as real estate developers must set the standard ourselves. Ballast Nedam Development's starting point is a value system, not a cost model as now. The step we take as a company with the 'Decision' marks the date when developers take matters into their own hands; lead instead of follow." No longer will the government prescribe minimum requirements, companies will henceforth do it themselves. An equally logical and necessary development, Dwars continues. "Only by pushing the standards ourselves do we make the world a better place."

'Dynamic and challenging'

For this reason, the standards in Ballast Nedam Development's 'Decision' are 'dynamic and challenging' and are supplemented with new ones whenever possible. Stewardship is focused on the themes of energy, health, mobility, nature inclusiveness, climate adaptivity and circularity. In light of this vision, the company has set measurable goals internally. Ballast Nedam Development is making all ground-level homes suitable for a sustainable mortgage; BENG 2 becomes 0 (energy-neutral) and the welfare of both people and animals is central as part of one inseparable natural system in which plant- and bio-based is the norm. For example, Ballast Nedam Development applies nesting boxes as standard in ground-connected homes, combined with a project-specific package for more biodiversity, and provides ground-connected homes with rain barrels and storage areas with a sedum roof as standard.

'Less footprint corporate chain'

Homes will be modular and prefabricated where possible and the living environment will be designed to encourage natural movement. Dwars: "We facilitate shared cars as standard in projects of 100 homes or more, and charging stations for bicycles are made possible in all projects. We also encourage electric cars and shared cars for our own employees, and as a company we will only buy vegetarian food from now on. These are not just drops in the ocean: reducing Ballast Nedam Development's footprint is initiating a wave of sustainability throughout the chain. We are working towards a 100% circular world and an MPG (Environmental Performance of Buildings; ed.) of at least 0 in every project developed, by 2035 at the latest."

'Builders must come along'

The MPG has a baseline value of 1 and is calculated based on a life cycle analysis. "The technology is not the problem: the market can already do it and we have an extensive track record. For example, we are developing the recently tendered Horizons project in Amsterdam's Sluisbuurt with an MPG of 0.25." Of course, there is work to be done chain-wide, from government to implementers. The NOVI will have to define what exemplary municipalities prescribe in terms of sustainability. Sustainable construction is added value; that will have to be better factored into banks' lending. Builders simply have to keep up, Dwars argues, among other things. "We as Ballast Nedam Development notice that the market as a whole is ready for it and are convinced that we are taking the right steps with the 'Decision'."