On 10 October, a team of over 100 employees welcomed the first customers to a unique building, offering an extensive range of groceries and a variety of products for everyday needs across a 3,700-sq m sales area.
Over an 18-month construction period, Kaufland incorporated no fewer than seven different recycled materials produced from demolition waste or renewable raw materials. Those materials were used for walls, facade components, insulation, and roof waterproofing, among other applications. This level of sustainable construction is unprecedented among Kaufland’s 770+ locations in Germany.
IMPORTANT FINDINGS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS
Recycled building materials primarily reduce “grey energy”, that is, the energy required for the production of materials, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. Robert Pfizenmayer, Project Manager at Kaufland Real Estate Development South explains, “Tuttlingen is a very special location for us. We can test and evaluate how construction methods and materials perform in practice here and gain valuable insight and experience for future projects.”
The waterproofing membrane used for the roof, for example, consists of 60 percent recycled plastic film, from logistics packaging, offering extended durability compared to conventional membranes. The parking garage paving stones consist of 40 percent mineral waste and the ram protection elements used in the warehouse are made entirely from recycled plastic.
PLENTY OF SPACE TO GENERATE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
The Tuttlingen store features a substantial photovoltaic system, covering over 2,000 sq m of roof space. With an output of 420 kWp, it is one of the largest in Tuttlingen. For comparison: The average system size for private households is around 10 kWp. The majority of the generated electricity is used directly at the store, with excess power fed into the grid. This photovoltaic system thus covers around a quarter of the store’s total annual energy requirements. Thanks to the heat pump and efficient utilization of the waste heat generated by the refrigeration system, the building operates without fossil fuels year-round.
The modern lighting concept creates a pleasant atmosphere at the new store, while a clear customer guidance system ensures optimal orientation. Special attention was paid to the use of energy-saving and climate-friendly technology, such as energy-efficient refrigeration units and LED lighting.
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED STANDARDS
Michael Hiese, Chief Real Estate Officer at Kaufland International states, “Our goal for every new building is to recycle as many of the materials used as possible, following the cradle-to-cradle principle enables resources to be returned to the cycle at some point. We incorporate internationally recognized standards for sustainable construction, such as EDGE, BREEAM, and DGNB. By early 2025, we aim to have around 1,000 of our owner-occupied stores EDGE-certified, including Tuttlingen. Increasing the use of recycled building materials is crucial in our efforts to standardize our construction practices, and the pioneering work we are currently undertaking in this field is fundamental to this.”
Kaufland aims to reduce CO2 emissions even more significantly in future construction and modernization projects for its stores across Europe. The retailer is testing various alternatives to concrete, steel, and the like at pilot locations, such as Tuttlingen. In the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, for example, Kaufland opened its first predominantly timber store in late 2023, using 335 cubic meters less concrete and reducing CO2 emissions by 514 tons compared to conventional construction.
In Germany, Kaufland has a store in Marktredwitz (Bavaria) that was built using a timber frame, replacing concrete with timber columns and glulam beams for part of the load-bearing structure. Following its success in Tuttlingen, Kaufland is already planning its next steps in the utilization of recycled building materials, aiming to implement those sustainable practices at more locations as soon as possible.
Michael Hiese
Michael Hiese is Chief Real Estate Officer at Kaufland International
