Sustainability in construction is a responsibility we act on every day. At Xella, we continuously explore innovative logistics solutions to reduce our CO₂ emissions and enable more efficient ways of transporting building materials.
By shifting from road-based transport to alternative modes such as inland shipping and rail, we significantly reduce emissions, congestion, and environmental impact – while ensuring a reliable and efficient supply for large construction projects.

From Road to River: CO₂ Savings in Benelux
After a successful rollout in Brussels, sustainable construction logistics have now reached West Flanders. In collaboration with Shipit, a fully digitalized supply chain was implemented, where
•        the middle mile is handled by ship,
•        the last mile is delivered just in time and just in place,
•        trucks are loaded to 100% capacity, maximizing efficiency.
The results are clear and measurable. To build 102 residential units and 5 commercial spaces in Kortrijk, Belgium, a total Silka volume of 1,222 m³ had to be transported. Deliveries started in mid-August 2025 and were organized via Shipit’s terminal in Wielsbeke, using inland waterways as the backbone of the supply chain.
One key milestone was transporting the equivalent of 60 truckloads of calcium-silicate blocks from the Netherlands to Wielsbeke using a single crane ship, dramatically reducing emissions and road traffic. From there, materials were distributed efficiently to the construction site in Kortrijk.
This project marks a significant step toward
•        fewer trucks on the road,
•        lower logistics costs,
•        and a substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Almost a year after the initial implementation, the results confirm that inland shipping is not only an environmentally responsible choice, but also a smart and scalable logistics solution for modern construction.

Beyond Waterways: Rail Transport in Poland
In Poland, Xella uses rail transport to supply cement to its plant in Piła. In 2025, 13 train deliveries covered 400 km, each carrying 1,100 tons of cement – equivalent to around 575 truckloads and a total volume of 14,394 tons. This shift has a significant climate impact: while road transport would have generated approximately 518 tons of CO₂, rail transport reduced emissions to around 200 tons.
Scalable Path to Lower Emissions
These projects demonstrate that alternative transport modes are efficient, reliable, and scalable. By reducing truck traffic, lowering logistics-related CO₂ emissions, and optimizing supply chains, Xella is taking concrete steps toward more sustainable construction.