New name, same mission: Circulinq is going to make the Netherlands more sustainable

Research by the Social and Cultural Planning Office shows that support for climate adaptation remains undiminished. 70% of people believe that humanity should act as soon as possible to combat climate change. In a general sense, most have an idea of ​​how to do that: consume less and reduce fossil fuel emissions. It should be clear that this cannot be the whole picture. Fortunately, there are companies like Circulinq that come up with practical solutions.

Maximum reuse of raw materials

The ‘mission statement’ is nicely reflected in the name of the company. Circular and connected, Circulinq. In 2018, the company, then called Plasticroad, introduced the world’s first plastic bicycle path. Climate-adaptive infrastructural solutions such as these make an important contribution to solving the climate crisis. Because no matter how much we manage to reduce our consumption, people and goods will have to be transported.

Circulinq is committed to maximum reuse of raw materials. The company’s bicycle and pedestrian paths are made from 100% recycled plastic waste. According to Circulinq, it provides a reduction of 75% in the raw materials required, 80% in transport and up to 83% in maximum emission reduction compared to traditional solutions. But circularity is not limited to construction. The expected lifespan of the elements from which the paths are built is estimated to be 50 years. When replaced, the whole can be dismantled and recycled. The road sections produced therefore not only do not themselves require new raw materials, but are also not reduced to waste when replaced.

Water, in the future only too much or too little

When there is no flooding, water becomes increasingly scarce. Grass mats are increasingly yellow in the summer, water boards have to compromise and rivers are dry. Concerns are already arising in Italy about the falling water level in the Po Valley. That while in 2021 a real flood occurred in Limburg. Nevertheless, the emphasis is mainly on the shortages, because if action is not taken quickly, there will be a shortage of drinking water in 2030.

Retaining excess water that often falls in the spring must therefore become more and more normal. Circulinq’s CCL elements also contribute to this. These are equipped with (temporary) water storage systems that can store up to 300 liters per square kilometer. Whether it is pouring or the groundwater is just below ground level, the road elements do their job. They can process up to 100 mm of precipitation per hour and tolerate groundwater levels from 40 cm to below ground level.

The CCL300 elements are equipped with a double water filter and the closed system can gradually release water to the environment. In this way, desiccation and subsidence of the local soil can be prevented. The filter system ensures that soil life and biodiversity are not compromised.

Circulinq’s road sections are actually used in many places. The company’s cycle paths have been constructed in Antwerp and Gouda and 8 sustainable parking bays are now ready at Schiphol. It doesn’t sound like a landslide, but only 8 parking bays together have a total capacity of 43,200 litres. Schiphol can make good use of the water. The airport must meet the requirements imposed by the water board. However, Schiphol cannot simply sacrifice terrain to control the water level, for example by constructing open water features. All this while every pavement on the site increases the risk of flooding.

Circulinq’s parking bays offer an ideal solution here. No terrain is sacrificed, but water management is still safeguarded. An additional advantage, the hard plastic waste produced by the airport is used for the production of the CL and CCL elements.

No single product or idea is the ultimate solution to the climate problem. Yet there are few products that kill two birds with one stone. With the circular nature of the road sharing and the relief of the impending water shortage that they offer, a major blow is taken. Who knows, we will soon all be cycling, walking and parking on Circulinq products.