We commit to at least double biodiversity in projects where concrete technology is implemented
ECOncrete
(
Private sector
)
#SDGAction50653
Description
ECOncrete patented technology modifies local concrete to create an hospitable habitat for marine species , such increasing biodiversity and generating an active carbon sink through the growth of marine life. Our technology can be easily implemented in a cost-effective and scalable manner in all types of marine infrastructure . It’s based on an admixture and unique surface modifying agents, and specifically designed liners and form inserts that can be incorporated into any concrete casting methodes. Our solution has been validated in Europe, USA, and Asia., and recommended by the Dutch government, the US Nature Conservancy , and integrated in Waterfront Alliance’s Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG). Our unique nature-based-design technology can easily be integrated in any marine construction projects, such providing solutions for the greater benefit of biodiversity, CO2 footprint, and infrastructure’s strength and durability. ECOncrete’s technology has been thoroughly tested and validated and is already in use in more than 40 projects, across 12 countries. In 2022 we successfully executed and implemented a number of infrastructure projects and we launched our new concrete solutions for Offshore Wind that generated great interest from industry, regulators and interest groups, such as The Nature Conservancy. We also receive continued international support and recognition from environmental initiatives, award-programs across industries, and NGOs (in 2022: “Innovator of the Year” nomination by European Patent Office, Solar Impuse Label, Energy Globe USA, Design Educates Gold Award, Engineering Awards in the USA and more). ECOncrete’s team of marine biologists, as well as independent teams of biologists from partner organizations, have monitored installations for a variety of biological performance indicators, such as species richness, biodiversity, and biological build up with many ECOncrete projects undergoing at least 2 years of biological monitoring. ECOncrete’s technology has been installed and tested in a variety of marine conditions globally, and shown success in temperate, tropical, and estuarine ecosystems. In all pilot studies, ECOncrete installations have grown covered with life. Across studies and pilot installations, the technology increased biodiversity, increased the ratio of native species, generated an active carbon sink. In addition to the obvious qualitative and ecological improvement that an improved shoreline ecosystem provides, economical/structural benefits range from improved conditions for various fields from fisheries to tourism.
With increased storminess and predicted sea-level rise, the fortification and concrete structures along our shorelines are ever growing at an increased pace requiring large and long time investments in marine infrastructure. Any marine construction - from ports to breakwaters to offshore wind - can be built with local concrete modified by ECOncrete technology. With that in mind our scope is to gain 2% of the 'wet concrete' global market. Today our technology is included many projects around the world, where advanced strict regulations are in place. Scientific monitoring, published in peer reviewed papers in cooperation with universities, shows the impact in terms of increased biodiversity and richness of species, carbon capture, water quality and other ecosystem services where ECOncrete technology was integrated in marine construction processes. With every m3 of gray concrete avoided, and with the integration of our technology, we can make a great difference and change how future (urban) waterfronts look and function. As we are providing a technology and solution to local manufacturers, we are ready to provide our technology at large scale, with little restrictions and limitations and environmental regulations should not overlook a technology addressing the marine construction ecological challenges, when the solution is already within reach.
Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, Biomimicry Institute, Solar Impulse, NY Waterfront Alliance , World Ocean Council
https://youtu.be/hs16NkK7k0o https://youtu.be/hY0w_SeVeTk
SDGS & Targets
Goal 9
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
9.1
9.1.1
Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road
9.1.2
Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport
9.2
Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries
9.2.1
Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita
9.2.2
Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment
9.3
9.3.1
Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added
9.3.2
Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit
9.4
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
9.4.1
CO2 emission per unit of value added
9.5
9.5.1
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP
9.5.2
Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants
9.a
9.a.1
Total official international support (official development assistance plus other official flows) to infrastructure
9.b
9.b.1
Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added
9.c
Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
9.c.1
Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.1.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
13.1.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.2.1
Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.3.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
13.a
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.a.1
Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025
13.b
Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
13.b.1
Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.2 | By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans |
| 14.a | Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries |
Deliverables & Timeline
Increase biodiversity and ecological services in Port of San Diego
Increase biodiversity and reduce dominance of invasive species on quay walls in port of Malaga
Increase biodiversity at Port of Rotterdam, new quaywalls
Ecosystem uplift in breackwaters in Mallorca
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
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Timeline
Entity
Region
- Europe
- North America
- Global
Other beneficiaries
Financial institutes, NGOs an for profit projects: Ports of Hamburg, San Diego, Rotterdam, San Francisco Vigo, New York Living Breakwater project
More information
Countries
Contact Information
Muriel Pineau, Chief Communications Officer