Peab unveils “climate-improved” concrete piles
Swedish construction and civil engineering company Peab has introduced ECO Piles, a new range of climate-improved concrete piles designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining high performance for demanding geotechnical conditions. This innovation is part of Peab’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2045.
The ECO Piles, which will be available in three different variants, aim to reduce carbon emissions by up to 34% compared to conventional concrete. “The new ECO piles will be manufactured in three different variants with a carbon dioxide saving of up to a third,” said Patrik Andersson, CEO of Peab Grundläggning.
Concrete piling is a key method for constructing heavy infrastructure such as roads, railways, bridges, and apartment buildings on land with poor load-bearing capacity. However, concrete piles come with a significant environmental cost due to the high levels of cement used in production. Cement accounts for up to 90% of concrete’s carbon footprint, and more than half of the pile metres installed in Sweden are made of concrete.
To address this, Peab has developed ECO Piles by reducing the amount of cement used in the mix and replacing part of it with Merit, a binder made from reclaimed blast furnace slag. Merit offers a climate-efficient alternative that significantly lowers emissions.
“In our new ECO piles, we have both reduced the proportion of steel and replaced part of the cement with Merit, which overall provides a substantially improved climate efficiency,” explained Anneli Lindgren, work manager for manufacturing at Peab Grundläggning.
The ECO Piles will be available in three levels of carbon reduction:
- Level 1: At least 10% CO₂ savings compared to conventional concrete.
- Level 2: CO₂ savings between 22% and 29%.
- Level 3: CO₂ savings of 34%.
While the climate impact of foundation work is not yet included in Sweden’s climate declarations for buildings, changes are expected by mid-2025. Peab is preparing for these stricter requirements and supporting customers who are proactively reducing their carbon footprints. “Both we and many of our customers want to be ahead when it comes to reducing the CO₂ footprint,” said Andersson.
Peab manufactures around a quarter of Sweden’s annual one million pile metres of concrete at its three factories in Sjövik, Tollarp, and Västerås. This network ensures quick delivery across the country while also minimising emissions from transport.
“The geographical spread of our factories enables quick deliveries of concrete piles to the entire country, which also reduces the climate footprint of long-distance transport,” added Lindgren.
Peab plans to launch ECO Piles to the market in mid-2025. By combining innovative materials like Merit with reduced steel content, the company aims to provide sustainable, high-quality foundations for a variety of construction projects.
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