The urgency to increase housing construction while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint demands concrete action. In this context, Rabobank and area developer BPD have announced a strategic partnership. By covering the additional costs of biobased and water-saving technologies in thousands of new-build homes, with an investment of over €100 million over the next four years, the parties aim to mobilize the market and make sustainable construction more accessible.
The urgency of today
The Netherlands needs approximately 2030 additional homes by 900.000, which equates to around 90.000 completions per year. At the same time, the share of biobased materials in the average new-build home remains low, at only 1,6 percent according to the Biobased Building Benchmark. There is therefore considerable room for growth, but this requires projects that are financially viable and a supply chain that can scale up.
Investment as a catalyst
Rabobank's investment is specifically intended to act as a catalyst. By covering the additional costs of biobased materials and drinking water-saving systems, more reference projects and economies of scale will be created. This will enable BPD to build more homes faster using natural materials like wood and fiber crops, combined with technologies that reduce drinking water consumption.
Construction sector in motion
Higher and more stable demand helps producers invest in capacity and innovation. Farmers gain more certainty about cultivating crops like flax and hemp for construction applications. For contractors and developers, serial production provides valuable experience, reducing risks and shortening lead times. As the supply chain matures, price differences with traditional materials can narrow.
The benefits for residents
For future residents, this means a wider choice of homes that emit less CO2 during construction and store carbon in their materials. Water-saving features reduce domestic consumption and ease the pressure on drinking water supplies. This is crucial in a country where freshwater availability is increasingly under pressure, especially during dry summers.
Future perspective
The sum of over one hundred million euros won't solve the entire challenge, but it can bring us closer to a tipping point. With concrete amounts and clear choices, we'll create the confidence to invest in production, projects, and skills. If this succeeds, the share of biobased materials in Dutch residential construction will grow steadily in line with construction output, while drinking water consumption per home will decrease.
Source text and photo: bpd.nl
Photo above: Impression of timber-framed houses in Bosrijk in the municipality of Eindhoven
