Significant reduction of GHG emissions

In 2024, we achieved a significant reduction of our scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions.

Compared to the previous year, we emitted 2,426 tons less, which is an absolute reduction of 21.65 %. Intensity-based, this is even a reduction of -55.5%.

The main driver of this reduction was the electrification of our fleet and construction sites. This resulted in a reduction of fossil fuels of 441,162 liters compared to previous year.

Additionally, a new renewable electricity contract was signed that covers the majority of our Belgian operations. 82.9% of our total electricity consumption is renewable thanks to this adaption.

In 2024 we reported on the GHG emissions of almost the complete Cordeel Group, 97.9% of the revenue was covered by this reporting.

Additionally, we did a deep-dive on our scope 3 emissions and reached out to our Top 50 suppliers to receive more concise emission data.

Our vision of future-proof logistical buildings

Nexus Logistics

In 2024, we introduced Nexus Logistics, our future-proof concept for logistics buildings. By using circular design and well thought through material choices, Nexus Logistics reduces embodied carbon by 38% compared to traditional concrete warehouses.

Another key focus is energy efficiency, with integrated solar panels, battery storage, and smart HVAC systems.

The buildings are designed to meet BREEAM Excellent standards and EU taxonomy regulations.

C-energy and GETEC join forces

In June 2024, C-energy and GETEC signed a strategic alliance to support the energy transition in industry and real estate.

C-energy, part of the Cordeel Group, will focus on designing, building and managing renewable energy systems tailored to each project.

GETEC brings the financial backing needed to build and operate these systems over the long term.

Together, they help clients to access reliable, low-carbon energy via “as a service” models, which allows them to focus on their core activities.

The goal is to make sustainable energy more practical and affordable for a wider range of projects.

Joining the Belgian Green Building Council

Cordeel Group has joined the newly established Belgian Green Building Council (BGBC) as a core founding partner. The BGBC brings together key players from the real estate sector—including developers, banks, academic institutions, and industry organizations—to promote sustainability in the built environment. By participating in this initiative, Cordeel Group aims to contribute to the development of unified sustainability standards and to advocate for streamlined regulations that facilitate sustainable construction practices.

Scherm_afbeelding 2025-03-06 om 11.03.37

Scaling our battery business

C-Battery, part of the Cordeel Group, has secured a contract to deliver 6 MWh of battery storage to long-term partner Montea.

With this project, C-Battery supports Montea’s ambition to integrate battery energy storage systems (BESS) across its logistics sites.

By providing reliable and innovative energy solutions made in Belgium, C-Battery helps Montea create future-proof logistic assets and contribute to a more resilient energy system.

To further enhance sustainability, we are currently completing a life cycle assessment (LCA) of our battery modules to better understand and minimize their environmental impact.

Cordeel Group joins “The Biodiversity Shift”

Cordeel has joined The Biodiversity Shift, a community of practice consisting of 19 organizations working to develop and implement a nature strategy in line with global standards.

Led by The Shift, WWF-Belgium, and Business for Nature, the program connects businesses across sectors with biodiversity experts to find practical solutions for reducing their environmental impact.

Throughout 2025, we will take part in eight sessions, each designed to deepen our understanding and shape our approach to biodiversity. These sessions will guide us in integrating nature into our operations and building a long-term strategy.

Electrification of our mobile crane “The Beast”

We have converted our 120-ton Sennebogen crane from diesel to electric, making it one of the largest fully electrified cranes of its kind in Europe.

Powered by a 230 kWh motor and nearly 400 kWh of battery capacity, it operates up to 10 hours a day without emissions. A backup generator running on HVO 100 ensures reliability.

This conversion reduces diesel use by 14,000 liters and cuts CO₂ emissions by over 45 tons annually.

By eliminating local nitrogen oxide emissions, it also supports compliance with strict nitrogen regulations on construction sites in the Netherlands.

Exciting new projects started

In 2024 we started numerous projects with high ambitions in terms of sustainability. Here are some examples:

Belgium’s first all-electric hospital (Vilvoorde)

Construction of the new AZ Jan Portaels hospital in Vilvoorde began in October 2024, with completion expected in 2027.

Built using a modular concept within a ring-shaped structure, the hospital will be able to adapt to future medical innovations and evolving care needs.

The design is guided by the principles of a ‘healing environment’, with features that support recovery and comfort—such as abundant natural light, views of green spaces, quiet zones, and access to rooftop gardens for specific patient groups.

The hospital will be fully all-electric—a first in Belgian healthcare—and will rely heavily on renewable energy. This includes solar panels, underground thermal energy storage system, and heat recovery technologies.

Civil works for Europe’s largest blue hydrogen facility (Rotterdam)

Cordeel Nederland is contributing to the development of Europe’s largest blue hydrogen facility by being responsible for the realisation of the civil works for Air Products’ HyCo4 Extension project in Rotterdam, Botlek.

This project involves the extension of the existing large scale hydrogen production facility with a CCS-facility (Carbon Capture and Storage; HyCo4 Extension) to capture its CO₂ emissions, turning its output into blue hydrogen. Blue hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced from natural gas, where the resulting CO₂ emissions are captured and permanently stored rather than released into the atmosphere.

Once operational, the captured CO2 will be transported via the Porthos pipeline network to depleted gas fields 20 kilometers off the Dutch coast, where it will be injected three kilometers beneath the seabed of the North Sea.

Technisch Cluster Noord (Antwerp)

On the Havanasite in northern Antwerp, a new energy-neutral building will soon serve as the base for the city’s operational services.

The 60,000 m² facility, named ‘Technische Cluster Noord,’ will include a vehicle centre, parking, storage areas, offices, and support functions, accommodating approximately 600 employees.

Designed with sustainability at its core, the project aims for an ‘excellent’ rating on the GRO sustainability meter. Construction is scheduled to commence in spring 2025, with completion expected by summer 2027

Quooker (Ridderkerk)

In May 2024, Cordeel Nederland started construction of a new sustainable logistics centre in Ridderkerk for Quooker. This 30-metre-high, fully automated high-bay warehouse represents the first phase of a project designed to consolidate all company functions—production, offices, service, and showroom—under one roof.

The facility’s compact design features amongst others a lime hemp plinth façade, reflecting Quooker’s commitment to energy-neutral, climate-adaptive, and nature-inclusive construction. Future phases will introduce green atriums with live plants and trees, as well as rooftop gardens.

Successful PFAS soil clean-up with nature-based solutions

In a recent pilot project at Campus Vesta in Ranst, we explored the use of nature-based solutions to remediate PFAS-contaminated soil.

Campus Vesta, a training center for emergency services, faced soil pollution due to the historical use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam.

Over a period of four months, the phyto remediation successfully cleaned up two-thirds of the affected area, removing approximately 67% of PFAS pollutants.

This nature-based approach offers a promising, cost-effective alternative to traditional soil remediation methods.

Cordeel Reports

Key sustainability achievements in 2024