In a pioneering move at the Port of Rotterdam, Dutch construction firm Hakkers has teamed up with climate-tech innovator Paebbl to unveil a world-first infrastructure project that actively captures and stores carbon.
This collaboration marks a major step toward more sustainable maritime construction by reducing the carbon footprint associated with anchoring systems.
The breakthrough comes from integrating Paebbl’s carbon-absorbing material into the cement mixture traditionally used in anchoring works.
By replacing 15% of standard cement with this carbon-storing alternative, the partners have created a lower-emission solution for quay wall construction, with each ton of this modified material locking away 110 kilograms (243 lbs) of CO2.
“We’re always on the lookout for innovative ways to minimise our carbon footprint at industrial scale. Traditional anchoring systems rely heavily on cement, which generates considerable CO2 emissions,” adds Jeroen Kuup, Commercial Manager at Hakkers Foundations.
“Partnering with Paebbl on these maritime infrastructures allows us to explore a more sustainable approach without compromising on the scale, reliability and performance that our clients expect.”
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Hakkers, which consumes roughly 5,000 tons of cement annually for anchoring operations — about 20% of the Dutch market — sees this as a model for greener engineering practices.
To further reduce the environmental impact, all drilling at the site was carried out using fully electric machinery, eliminating on-site exhaust emissions and helping to maintain cleaner air during construction.
Cement manufacturing is a major contributor to climate change, responsible for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions.
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Paebbl’s solution addresses this challenge from two angles: it not only permanently traps CO2 within solid minerals through an accelerated natural process, but also reduces the embodied carbon of construction materials by as much as 30%.
The science behind Paebbl’s product mimics natural mineralisation — typically a process that takes thousands of years — by speeding it up exponentially.
This rapid conversion locks carbon into a stable, non-reactive form, allowing it to be embedded directly into construction components.
