The project integrates Paebbl’s carbon-sequestering material into the quay wall anchoring systems. By substituting 15% of the cement in the anchoring mix with this innovative material, the system locks in 110 kg of CO₂ per tonne used—without compromising structural integrity.
Cement is a major source of global CO₂ emissions—responsible for roughly 8% annually—making this type of innovation particularly significant. Hakkers alone consumes about 5,000 tonnes of cement per year across its projects, representing about 20% of the Dutch market for anchoring systems. Scaling this solution could yield measurable carbon savings across national infrastructure.
Beyond the material swap, Hakkers introduced fully electric drilling equipment at the Rotterdam site. This move eliminated direct exhaust emissions during construction, reducing local air pollution and aligning with broader low-emission operational goals.
Paebbl’s material leverages accelerated mineralization to permanently store carbon—achieving in one hour what nature would take centuries to complete. Each tonne of Paebbl material can sequester up to 300 kg of CO₂, while also reducing the embodied carbon of construction projects by as much as 30%.
The Port of Rotterdam anchors serve as a proof of concept that climate-positive materials can perform at industrial scale.
Ana Luisa Vaz, VP Products at Paebbl, highlighted that deploying such solutions in mission-critical projects shows their readiness for real-world application. The collaboration with Hakkers also signals how partnerships between engineering firms and technology developers can accelerate the adoption of climate innovations.
For Hakkers, the project reinforces an ongoing strategy to combine operational improvements with materials innovation. Commercial Manager Jeroen Kuup noted that the company aims to explore sustainable approaches that maintain performance standards while contributing to long-term emissions reduction.
