In line with Germany's sustainability strategy and in support of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP has launched the joint project “AACtion,” dedicated to the development of environmentally friendly building materials. Facing the challenges of increasing global urbanization pressures, the project aims to significantly enhance resource efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint in the construction industry.
Today, 75% of Germany’s population lives in cities, underscoring the need to create sustainable infrastructures and living spaces. In regions such as the Ruhr area, Germany's largest metropolitan area, it is particularly important to develop new residential quarters and retrofit strategies that meet sustainability requirements.
Funded by the ERDF/JTF program in North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the “Industrie.IN.NRW” innovation competition, the project focuses on two main strategies to improve the sustainability of masonry: reducing cement-based binders and using secondary raw materials. Despite intensive research, no market-ready solutions for masonry have yet been established. Fraunhofer IBP will therefore investigate innovative approaches to substituting raw materials and reducing energy consumption in the production of aerated concrete and sand-lime bricks.
The project will also address the optimization of existing manufacturing processes, aiming to reduce energy consumption and promote the use of renewable energies. The aim is to support the construction industry in achieving the Agenda 2030 targets and to make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.
Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP