Newsroom
  • Xella.com
  • Contact
  • en
  • |
  • de
  • News
  • Press
    • Media Library
  • Themes
    • Company
    • Digitalization
    • Innovation
    • People
    • References
    • Sustainability
  • About
Search
  • en
  • |
  • de
  • News
  • Press
    • Media Library
  • Themes
    • Company
    • Digitalization
    • Innovation
    • People
    • References
    • Sustainability
  • About

Best practice: Circularity at the Kolubara plant in Serbia

Xella is well on the way to achieving an important milestone in circularity: by 2025, no AAC (autoclaved aerated concrete) leftovers will end up in landfills. The Kolubara plant in Serbia demonstrates how this transition is being successfully implemented, marking a key step forward in achieving Xella's zero-to-landfill goal for AAC and CSU by 2030.

18 December, 2024

Xella is working hard to achieve one of its 2025 circularity targets: zero AAC leftovers to landfill. Previously, the Kolubara plant sent approximately 10,000 tons of AAC leftovers — 30% of the company's total — to landfill each year. This posed a significant challenge due to the process being both cost- and labor-intensive.

Creative solutions for leftovers

Expensive investments were not the first choice. The initial idea of paying 1.5 million euros for comprehensive equipment was quickly abandoned. "We had to be creative," Kolubara plant manager Aleksandar Petrović recalls. Instead, the team reviewed the production process and realized that changing the product's recipe would make a difference. With the support of Xella Technologie & Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (T&F), the plant adopted a new mixing ratio for their products - reusing significant amounts of leftover material to produce new blocks.

Adequate Pumps for Transportation Challenges

However, the production process also needed optimization. "Now we have installed new pumps for sand slurry with crushed material," says the plant manager. He adds: "Together with the Romanian, Bosnian and Slovenian colleagues, we looked for better solutions as they have more advanced equipment, and we found one for us as well."

Savings and strategic investments

A revised investment plan provided a practical solution: only 10% of the original huge investment plan were needed. The investment now allows full use of AAC leftovers in production and reduces CO2 emissions by 415 tons of CO2 per year. "With the reduced costs, we expect the project to pay for itself in less than a year," says Petrović. He also highlights an additional benefit: "Circularity reduces the need for virgin mineral resources."

Serbia is poised to make a significant contribution to Xella's 'zero to landfill' circularity goal, driven by innovative solutions and collaboration beyond company boundaries. "It's a very interdisciplinary issue, because you really need an excellent understanding of the processes in the plant, but you also need to look more broadly in the ecosystem to see what local opportunities there are to find solutions," summarizes Antonio Grginovic, Circular Economy Development Manager at Xella Group.

Share this news

E-mail page Print page

More sustainability news

  • Let’s plant pines campaign: 3,000 new trees

    In April, a unique environmental action by Xella Poland took place at the Ostrołęka Forest Division. The employees from the Ostrołeka plant, from the Warsaw headquarters, and their families joined

    View more
  • Climate change: How autoclaved aerated concrete and calcium-silicate blocks cope with flooding

    Sometimes massive construction has massive advantages. After all, building sustainably also means adapting to extreme weather events such as flooding - especially when it comes to subsequent drainage.

    View more
  • Circularity in Action: how Silka Leftovers are reintegrated into production

    Last year, our Silka plant in Hillegom, the Netherlands, introduced an innovative circularity process to minimize waste and reduce raw material consumption. By reintegrating crushed residues into prod

    View more

Links

 

Links

  • Company
  • Digitalization
  • Innovation
  • People
  • References
  • Sustainability
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube

Introduction

2024 Xella International. All rights reserved.

Links

  • General Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Imprint
  • Terms of Use