Water stewardship

At Troldtekt, we work in line with Cradle to Cradle certification requirements for water resource management. Among other things, we are making a positive impact with rainwater basins that also support biodiversity.

Rainwater and wastewater are separated

Troldtekt’s factory is located in an area (Western Jutland) where, according to the international Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, there is no prospect of a water shortage (low-medium risk). But we are aware that the situation is different in many parts of the world and that we should not take clean water for granted. We are therefore careful to ensure that our production does not unnecessarily impact the groundwater.

In line with our Cradle to Cradle Certification,^® we calculate our water consumption (see the table at the bottom of the page), just as we have all the required approvals.

The separation of rainwater and waste water at our factory site ensures that heavy rains do not overwhelm the local sewer system. This reduces the risk of wastewater from sewers flowing into the aquatic environment (the local brook) during heavy rain showers.

 

Rainwater lake with positive footprint

To ensure a positive impact, we created an overflow basin – a so-called rainwater lake – with vegetation, in connection with the construction of our new storage and logistics facility. The same is planned for future construction projects on the factory premises.

The rainwater lake serves several purposes. First and foremost, it collects surface water from the building’s large roof area, so the lake serves as a buffer during heavy rainfall. In this way, we are preparing Troldtekt for a future with more frequent and heavier rain showers.

The lake also allows us to support biodiversity with green oases for animals, plants and insects. Even under dry spells, there is water at the bottom of the lake, and during droughts, we have seen rich and varied birdlife there quenching their thirst.

 

A gift for insects

We have planted wildflowers and native plant species by the current lake, which are good food sources for bees and other Danish insects. As a result, swarms of insects are often observed in the area.

Moreover, we have built an insect hotel – a nice home-made habitat for insects. They can use the hotel for overwintering, breeding and hiding. This helps to ensure a wide variety of beneficial insects that create a better balance in nature. For example, many species of butterflies seek shelter in strong winds, and several species such as the brimstone, peacock, and small tortoiseshell butterflies overwinter there.

In addition, we have erected posts with bird boxes for starlings, which are currently in decline across much of northern and western Europe, partly because of a lack of breeding areas.

 

Calculating Troldtekt’s water consumption

We use water in our fully automated production of Troldtekt acoustic panels, which contributes to the hardening of the cement. However, we discharge less water than we add, as much of it evaporates during the drying process or remains in the acoustic panels, which need to acclimatise before installation.

In 2023, we sent approximately 1,200 cubic metres of wastewater from the painting process to an authorised third party for treatment.

As the table below shows, our production is located in an area where there is no prospect of water shortages (low-medium risk). The risk of flooding is categorised as medium-high, and we are addressing this with our rainwater collection, among other things.