How Vandersanden contributes to climate-adaptive public spaces

The adaptation of our public spaces to climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing governments and the construction sector. Vandersanden takes the lead in climate change adaptation and develops solutions that offer an answer to heavy rainfall and soil drought.

Throughout Europe - and beyond - summers are becoming hotter and periods of heavy precipitation follow each other in quick succession. According to the EU-funded ClimateCost project, the annual cost of climate change in Europe is expected to reach €100 billion per year by the 2080s if no action is taken. The European Commission has, therefore, adopted the EU adaptation strategy which sets out how the EU can adapt to the impact of climate change and become climate resilient by 2050.

Heat and prolonged drought lead to low groundwater levels and water shortages that affect agriculture and many other aspects of our lives. During periods of extreme precipitation, on the other hand, there is a greater risk of flooding, especially in urban areas that are generally less resistant to climate change.

This paradox - our public spaces are weighed down by too much and too little water - presents governments with a major challenge: how do we design our public spaces so that we can not only drain rainwater but also retain it?

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As a family business, we ask ourselves every day how we can help build a pleasant living environment that anticipates the ecological challenges of today and tomorrow. We think in terms of generations, not years. That is why we like to help build public spaces that are not only sustainable today, but will also remain so in 10, 50 or 100 years' time.

We are committed to the following three principles for climate-adaptive solutions:

Customised solutions to support local needs

Climate change adaptation goes beyond a combination of products. Every city district and every village centre is different. Anyone who wants to invest in sustainability must develop system solutions that respond to (hyper) local challenges. Consider, for example, sub-surface water flows, the type of sub-surface, height differences that affect water flows, hardening and construction, groundwater levels, the intensity of rain showers and the local annual rainfall.

Simplicity and accessibility

Climate change adaptation should be simple to embrace. At Vandersanden, we strive for climate-adaptive solutions that are also feasible for contractors without major adjustments to their way of working. We believe in orderly, manageable and simple solutions.

Attractiveness and quality

According to Vandersanden, municipalities do not have to make a compromise between attractiveness and sustainability in the design of their public spaces. Climate-adaptive solutions must meet the same performance benchmark as standard products, and they must also look as attractive and high-quality.

In the past, the belief was to eliminate rainwater as quickly as possible. This philosophy is now outdated: we must try to retain the water. By draining rainwater too quickly, we break down the natural replenishment of the groundwater system, which is particularly important during long periods of heat and drought.

At Vandersanden, we believe in the power of water re-absorbing clay pavers as a solution to increased flooding and drought. This type of paving allows rainwater to infiltrate where it falls. In the sub-structure, the water can sink into the soil at this spot or, for example, be slowed down to drain away to a gully or remain as surface water. In this process, we prevent overloading and overflowing of the sewer system. Sewage treatment plants also work better if sewage is not diluted by rainwater. In addition, Water re-absorption paving also helps to prevent long periods of drought: by collecting water in the subsoil, the groundwater level is maintained and the risk of dehydration and salinisation is reduced.

For this reason, Vandersanden developed Drainflow®: water re-absorbing clay pavers which have the quality of traditional clay pavers and with re-absorption properties. The pavers can be mechanically processed and the application avoids other complex and costly interventions, such as, the construction of separate sewers for rainwater. It is practical and easy to fit into the existing built-up environment.

In short: water re-absorbing clay pavers, in combination with the right substrate, are a simple, attractive and sustainable solution that helps our public spaces combat the impact of climate change.

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Vandersanden is proud of the fact that, through innovative solutions and customised advice, we can contribute to the quality of life in our public spaces. In this way, we are helping to build beautiful and sustainable cities and villages throughout Europe.

We make climate change adaptation a priority today, but we also think ahead. The horizon is currently set for 2050, but climate change will remain a major challenge for decades and centuries to come. That is why we are working today on the development of CO2-neutral and even CO2-negative bricks.

We want to minimise the environmental impact of our bricks for a favourable Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Cost Indicator (EQI). Our new, state-of-the-art clay paver kiln in Tolkamer is already helping us to significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

Finally, Vandersanden will also evolve as a company. In a world and climate that is becoming increasingly complex, Vandersanden is growing from a producer of facade and clay pavers to a partner for governments who want to design their public spaces in a sustainable and climate-adaptive way. By joining forces with our partners and municipalities, together we are taking a step forward in making public spaces more sustainable.