Efficient and responsible use of natural resources

NCC’s operations are resource-intensive, making it important that natural resources are used as efficiently as possible and that as much as possible is included in a circular flow without compromising on quality. To achieve this, product and process development is constantly ongoing to facilitate higher efficiency and circular material flows. NCC always strives for the efficient use of virgin material if used.

In the stone materials operations, where NCC extracts stone materials from quarries across the Nordic region, this includes:   

  • Mass balance: Utilize all stone materials extracted in a quarry. Working with a mass balance system, NCC has developed a market for its fine-grained material, as a substitute for natural gravel and sand. What was previously considered a by-product is washed and processed into a more customized shape and used particularly in concrete products.   
  • NCC Machine Sand. NCC’s machine sand is the product of rock that is crushed, screened and processed. Machine sand replaces natural sand and gravel in the production of concrete and asphalt, and in building and infrastructure projects


Water treatment

NCC is working on several types of projects aimed at improving water management, and has extensive expertise in water treatment, ensuring a major positive impact on water quality in the relevant areas. In all projects, but especially relevant in infrastructure projects, meticulous water management is vital. Ahead of every project start, NCC performs thorough analyses and risk assessments concerning the impact on water; how groundwater and natural receptacles are affected and how runoff occurs. NCC develops project management measures to treat and manage sump and stormwater to minimize the impact on recipient water bodies by removing particles and substances in the water discharged from our projects. Solutions are designed based on project-specific requirements.

How we work with biodiversity

Biodiversity is one of NCC’s impact areas and is an aspect where its operations have both a positive and negative impact. NCC has expertise in the area of biodiversity, and this is something that is integrated into its construction projects.

Through primarily four types of initiatives, NCC works to reduce the negative – and increase the positive – impact on biodiversity.

  • NCC Kielo, a proprietary method for promoting biodiversity in quarries. The method is not suitable for all quarries. Around 10 quarries are currently using this method.  
  • Measures for property development where biodiversity is always taken into account. One such measure is sedum roofs or biotope roofs (also called “green” roofs).   
  • Measures in construction projects. In Denmark and Norway, the target is to conduct at least one measure for biodiversity in all construction projects. Biodiversity is one area that requires certification under BREEAM. 
  • NCC Infrastructure carries out projects on behalf of customers, including wildlife corridors under and over roads, which supports biodiversity. The projects could be anything from ensuring that moose, frogs and doormice can move around unhindered to conducting a tree inventory before development.   
  • Training. In-house training for project managers that includes species protection and invasive species.