Innovation

The self-sufficient construction site is the cornerstone of Democo's sustainable development strategy. An autonomous building site could provide all the water and energy needed during the construction process without being dependent on purchased utilities. Although this is still highly ambitious, Democo has already significantly reduced resource consumption at many construction sites and generated water and energy sources. Moreover, the company aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 16% within its business chain by 2025, implementing electrifying fleets and maximizing energy efficiency using LED lighting and intelligent timers.

Democo recognizes that sustainable building entails more than just construction, so the final goal of circular building was established to represent their ambition to recycle and reuse as much as possible within the construction cycle - both during construction and demolition. This objective proves that Democo is headed toward a flourishing sustainable future where businesses care about doing more and best for the planet rather to just doing what is necessary.

One of the most significant challenges is persuading people that alternative building methods exist. As the advisor for circular economy stated in the interview: "People like to build the way they are used to." As a leading sustainable construction company, Democo understands that it must change people's thoughts about construction and show them that a lasting, non-invasive building is possible.

Inspiration

The sustainable journey of Democo all started in 2019 when the director of Democo came up with the idea of circular construction and wanted to gain more knowledge about the specific field. They unveiled a new corporate identity and logo that same year. That moment, they had marked a new chapter for Democo, the beginning of a sustainable construction world.

The Democo team discovered, following extensive market research, that they would have less control over the building materials and methods than they would have wanted as a contractor, whose primary duty is to carry out the file as dictated. As a result, they changed their emphasis to renovating their construction sites, which they wholly controlled, to create self-sufficient building sites.

Democo's constant efforts to analyze and incorporate its strengths into each project help it swiftly transform into a sustainable path. However, the Democo team quickly realized that much more work was needed to achieve their dream of accessible, sustainable construction for the world. Looking back on the life-cycle of the site or a building, the impact during the producing or constructing stage is the lowest. This means that even though Democo could develop a perfectly self-sufficient building site, their effect on the world towards sustainable construction would be fiddling. This is when the idea of "circular building" comes in, requiring different parties to accompany Democo in its sustainable path.

"Every construction site offers opportunities for self-sufficient and circular processes," according to Martha, the Democo Adviser Circular Economy. Democo saw construction as its opportunity and sustainability as its responsibility. They believe that as a company, they need to take on-time-action, test cases, and learn the correct way of doing business as soon as possible. This element also plays a major role in Democo's scalability. Their continued efforts to study and adapt their building methods have resulted in their partners and projects growing both in size and geographical reach. Moreover, the Democo team believes, "As a sector, we can grow faster together than alone." As a result, they try to be as transparent as possible about their innovations and open opportunities for other stakeholders, even their competitors, to join the journey of building for the future, together creating a positive impact on the planet. Democo is motivated to create a community that cares and takes action towards sustainable building.

Overall impact

At Democo Group, they are building people's and the environment's future. They are aware that this goes hand in hand with great social responsibility. Democo tries to achieve this by moving with the world they are building in and continuing to invest and grow in its techniques and processes. In addition to contributing to climate through sustainable methods and procedures, Democo also supports other organizations and charities committed to people, society, and the planet. In this way, they ensure a robust social impact.

They approach sustainability through the three pillars of sustainability. They contribute to a better environment. Their lower CO2 emissions contribute to stopping global warming. This benefits not only their business but also the environment and society. Another way they help the community and the atmosphere is by actively promoting sustainability to their clients to create awareness and accelerate the transformation to more sustainable construction methods.

Another way they contribute to society and the environment is by aggressively advocating sustainability to their clients to raise awareness and hasten the transition to more sustainable construction practices.

Business benefit

Environmental and human impact are becoming increasingly important. Democo has noticed that people increasingly value a company's efforts to be sustainable. The interviewee mentioned that Democo frequently has customers who have specifically chosen them because of their excellent focus on sustainability. This is very positive for the environment. It also leads to more innovation, research, and development in sustainability.

Intrinsic value: Democo builds thanks to climate-neutral and self-sustaining ambitions. They renovate renovating and aging buildings. In addition, they install energy and climate systems that consume less.

Responsibility: Democo is convinced that it can make a big difference and, therefore, continues to invest in innovation, sustainable means of production, and knowledge.

Circularity: According to the interviewees, Democo's most significant contribution to sustainability is recycling and recovering building materials. This is where they focus the most.

Social and environmental benefit

Democo is a pioneer in its innovative approach to circular construction in Belgium and worldwide. The company's environmental impact stems from its commitment to green building practices rather than traditional construction, which has numerous adverse effects on the planet. They prioritize using eco-friendly materials such as recycled, sustainable, or low-emission sources.

They try to enhance its processes and construction technologies, striving for increased construction efficiency, resource optimization, and improved safety standards. These developments are crucial to Democo's success and a valuable contribution to the construction sector. In the last two years, Democo has actively promoted circular construction principles to its clients, not only showcasing its commitment to reducing environmental impact but also emphasizing the scalability of their innovative approach. As they set standards for companies worldwide, their focus on eco-friendly materials, enhanced construction processes, and advanced construction technologies reflects not just a local initiative, but a global movement towards sustainable building practices. By prioritizing circularity, Democo isn't just reducing emissions; they're contributing to the flourishing of a greener, more sustainable construction sector, setting a positive example for the industry.

Since 2019, the company has actively embraced circular building strategies, analyzing site processes to maximize impact. Recognizing that the traditional construction model often limits a contractor's influence on projects because materials have already been made, the advisor for circular economy explained: "There are just a lot of different strategies within circular construction. Some say 'conservation', others say 'recycling', and others say 'reuse'. In the end, none of that matters much. The goal is to reduce emissions" (Martha Vandermaesen). By focusing on their yards, Democo monitors and reduces electricity consumption, uses rainwater during the yard stage, and investigates the integration of solar panels, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to circularity. Additionally, the company actively engages in life-cycle analysis using tools such as Totem, aligning with its goal to build structures within climate targets.

Interview

Martha Vandermaesen, Adviser Circular Economy