A Focus on Construction: The Resource-Intensive Sector with Consequences
The construction industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors worldwide, accounting for roughly 50 to 60% of global resource consumption. Sand and gravel are particularly in demand—core ingredients in concrete and among the most widely used raw materials globally. Consumption of these materials increases by about 5.5% annually, resulting in significant environmental damage from unregulated extraction.
At the same time, according to Eurostat, construction generates more than 35% of total waste in the EU. The sector’s climate impact is also significant. Greenhouse gas emissions generated from resource extraction, material production, and the construction or renovation of buildings make up around 5 to 12% of national emissions. Greater material efficiency could reduce up to 80% of these emissions. On top of that are downstream CO₂ emissions from building operations—such as heating and electricity use—which contribute another 28%.
Graphic source: Federal Government
While the strategic framework is clear, the challenge lies in day-to-day operations: a lack of transparency is common in many construction companies. zamics co-founder Christian Marx knows the issue all too well. “Many construction firms don’t know exactly which equipment they own, where it is, or whether it’s operational. That leads to duplicate rentals, unnecessary purchases, and ultimately more resource use—the exact opposite of what we need,” Christian explains.
Given the EU’s climate targets, there’s a pressing need for action. Through the European Green Deal, the EU has committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050. Germany is aiming for 2045. In this context, the construction and building sector is coming under increased scrutiny due to its substantial environmental impact.
The roadmap is clear: the Green Deal creates a policy framework that imposes specific obligations and measures for the construction industry—from material selection to energy efficiency to financing.
The Green Deal Takes Effect: A New Framework for the Industry
At Zeppelin Rental, sustainability is addressed on two levels. Markus Heidak explains: “We look at it operationally—our own emissions and facilities—and strategically, in terms of customer requirements and market trends.”
Dr. Markus Heidak at the Zeppelin Rental internal Kick-Off-2025
It’s exactly at this intersection that policy steps in: companies must adapt or risk falling behind in tenders and investments. The EU’s strategy includes regulations and programs affecting all stakeholders in the construction sector, such as:
- The Renovation Wave, which aims to significantly increase the renovation rate across Europe
- The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), requiring large and medium-sized companies to report on their sustainability performance
- The EU Taxonomy, which defines which economic activities are considered sustainable
For businesses, this means sustainability is no longer optional. It’s both a requirement and a competitive advantage. Markus Heidak sums it up: “We’re under dual pressure. We need to be compliant with legal requirements—and we must translate that into support for our customers and their sustainability goals.”
Building facade with green plants in Malaysia
Energy-Efficient Construction in Focus: From Renovation to Zero-Emission New Builds
A cornerstone of the Green Deal is the Renovation Wave, which seeks to at least double the EU’s renovation rate by 2030. The emphasis is on improving the energy performance of existing buildings, which account for a significant share of energy use. Buildings must not only be energy-optimized but increasingly operated with zero emissions.
This development is governed by the revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Starting in 2030, all new buildings must be constructed as “zero-emission buildings.” Existing buildings are also to be gradually renovated to become emission-free by 2050. The EPBD translates the goals of the Renovation Wave into binding standards. In Germany, these are implemented through the Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG), or Building Energy Act.
Circular Economy: From Linear to Circular Construction
Sustainable construction goes beyond energy efficiency. Another major goal of the Green Deal is establishing a circular economy—especially vital in the resource-hungry construction sector. This model keeps materials and products in use as long as possible through reuse, repair, or recycling. In practice, this means promoting environmentally friendly materials, reusing construction components, and planning dismantling with the next material life cycle in mind. Instead of demolition and disposal, the focus is shifting to reuse.
Panel discussion with Prof. Dr. Jan-Diederich Lüken (TU Rosenheim) and Dr. Markus Heidak (Zeppelin Rental) on the topic of circular economy at the Bavarian Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Days.
Beyond materials, resource conservation also involves how machines and equipment are used. This is where the sharing economy comes in: resources are shared rather than owned. In construction, that means renting machines only when needed—rather than buying them and letting them sit idle.
Markus Heidak sees rental companies like Zeppelin Rental playing a key role here: “We enable customers to test new technologies flexibly—without purchasing them upfront. That lowers the investment risk. Our customers rent machines only when they’re really needed.” This reduces barriers to adopting sustainable technology and helps accelerate its spread—an important step in a fast-changing market.
Launch of the HVO Ready campaign. From left to right: Dr. Markus Heidak (Senior CSR Manager), Bernd Kreiselmeier (Head of Rental Germany) and Martin Sebestyén (Head of Fleet Management & Pricing)
Digitization as a Lever for Resource Efficiency
Digitization is critical to achieving a circular economy in multiple ways. Its long-term potential is clear. Markus Heidak notes: “Digital building data is essential if we want to treat buildings as resource banks—not as waste. For example, through digital twins. Only if we know what materials are used and where can we plan for reuse.”
Digital material passports and deconstruction plans enable the tracking and retention of valuable building materials. In this way, digitization becomes the foundation for a functioning circular economy in construction.
But it’s not just about buildings. Digitization also improves equipment usage. zamics’ digital equipment management allows for centralized control and transparency, leading to more efficient use of existing resources. That reduces unnecessary purchases, transportation, and storage costs.
Easily access all device data via the zamics app
zamics in Action: Less Searching, More Building
With zamics, construction site managers gain full transparency on their equipment fleet. The digital solution also saves significant time—especially for site or warehouse managers. Christian explains: “In the worst case, up to 50% of the day is wasted searching for or waiting on equipment.” From experience, he knows: “Systematic equipment management dramatically shortens search and coordination processes—letting staff refocus on their core tasks.”
zamics also adds long-term value in maintenance. The system tracks inspection cycles and service history, improving equipment availability and reducing downtime. That helps keep machinery in use longer and running more efficiently.
Turning Data into Decisions: Efficiency Through Pattern Recognition
Another dimension of sustainability is building a continuously growing database. “We have over 20,000 devices and ran more than 35,000 inspections last year alone,” says Christian. “Using this data helps us identify patterns—like which machines fail more often, when a repair is worth it, or when it’s better to replace something.”
Christian Marx at bauma 2022
According to Christian, data analysis supports predictive maintenance, better procurement decisions, and optimized deployment planning. “Ideally, we can share these patterns with customers in the future—to avoid unnecessary rentals or optimize logistics,” he says. After all, last-minute rentals often come at a high cost.
In this way, digitization supports both current operational efficiency and the development of future-proof, resource-saving processes in a sector increasingly strained by labor shortages and cost pressure.
Reporting and Financing: What Companies Need to Know
After implementing resource-efficient practices, the next step is proving them. Future construction and investment projects must clearly demonstrate their sustainability. That’s the core message of the EU’s Green Deal. Two instruments define the framework: the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU Taxonomy.
Joint Cleanup Day of Zeppelin University, Zeppelin Rental, Zeppelin Systems, the RITZ (Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Center) and the Swiss International School. In one hour, over 170 kg of waste was collected and disposed of properly. Image rights: Zeppelin University, Nicolas Bühringer.
With the CSRD, sustainability becomes not just a strategic topic but a legal reporting obligation. Especially relevant to construction: companies must disclose CO₂ footprints, material use, circular economy efforts, and climate adaptation strategies.
The EU Taxonomy then determines whether a project qualifies as “sustainable”—with direct implications for financing and incentives. Renovation projects under the Renovation Wave, for example, are taxonomy-compliant if they achieve at least 30% energy savings. In short: sustainable construction ensures both regulatory compliance and access to green investments.
Digital Proof of Sustainability: CO₂ Data and Documentation with zamics
In the context of the CSRD and EU Taxonomy, digital traceability is becoming a key success factor. As Markus Heidak puts it: “Everything we do must be transparent. Otherwise, it’s not measurable—and therefore not credible.” Verification is inseparable from digital systems: “Paper records won’t cut it anymore. What matters is the proof—and that’s always digital now,” says the environmental geoscientist.
Dr. Markus Heidak and Peter Schrader at the launch of the Eco Solutions 2024 brand
Accordingly, zamics is expanding its features to include CO₂-related metrics. In addition to equipment, maintenance, and inspection management, zamics will also track emissions-related data.
In a current pilot project, actual emissions are being recorded based on operating hours. “Previously, we didn’t even note whether a machine was motorized in its master data. That’s changing now,” says Christian Marx. Once digital, CO₂ values can be automatically calculated based on real usage—enabling accurate carbon footprints per machine.
In future, consumption differences between similar machines can also be compared—just like cars with different fuel efficiency. “Not every compactor produces the same emissions,” Christian notes. “If one is needed on-site, we’ll simply suggest the more efficient one.”
Christian Marx in the workspace with zamics team
Conclusion: Sustainable Construction Needs Digital Solutions
The construction industry must reduce its environmental impact while staying economically competitive. The path forward lies in material efficiency, circularity, and climate-friendly methods. Digitization is the key.
Whether digital building data, intelligent equipment management, or automated CO₂ accounting—smart technologies provide transparency, reduce resource consumption, and enable sustainable decisions. Systems like zamics show how digital tools already offer ecological and economic benefits on today’s construction sites. Together with policy frameworks like the Green Deal and CSRD, one thing is clear: digitization enables more efficient—and future-ready—construction.
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