Sustainable construction

We are facing a range of major societal challenges: a housing crisis, rising living costs and affordability issues, a climate crisis, and a growing scarcity of resources. The demand for new homes is enormous, while traditional construction practices place a heavy burden on the environment. As a result, the building sector plays a vital role in the transition to a more sustainable Netherlands. Municipalities and provinces are tasked with embedding sustainability into construction projects, regulations, and policies.

Circular construction using renewable materials offers a powerful response to these urgent challenges. By designing for reuse, applying smart material choices, and transforming existing buildings rather than demolishing them, we create a building practice that is not only more sustainable, but also more affordable and scalable.

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Timber

Biobased

Circular

trusted by Industry leaders

At Hedgehog, we guide governments and policymakers through this transition.

Systeem thinking and collaboration – We bring stakeholders together and take the value chain perspective to develop impactful and widely supported solutions.

Environmental impact analyses – We support sustainability strategies with detailed analyses of CO₂ impact, nitrogen calculations, material choices, and life cycle assessments.

Practical knowledge and execution – We provide insight into what works in practice: we build scalable value chains, executable plans, and collaboration between markets and government.

Ambitious and future-proof strategies – We support municipalities and provinces in developing plans that are feasible and aligned with broader sustainability goals.

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A mockup of a calculation done by Hedgehog

Our role as knowledge partner in accelerating sustainable construction

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Knowledge sharing

We help municipalities and provinces steer construction projects more effectively toward sustainability, with expertise in circular materials, biobased building, and sustainable methods.

Policy development

We support policy with impact analyses and expertise, and facilitate collaborations such as the timber covenant.

Research to biobased materials

We analyze the environmental impacts of timber and other biobased materials and provide advice on their application.

Practical support for scaling up

We guide the implementation of sustainable strategies and policies with scalable and applicable solutions.

Our 3 step plan

The road to sustainable policy

1

Set-up ambitions and goals

It starts with defining your ambitions and goals for the built environment

2

Start collaborating with market players

We facilitate dialogues with developers, builders, and manufacturers to arrive at practical, implementable solutions.

3

Embedding sustainability in processes and projects

We monitor progress and impact, and provide examples based on practical experience.

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Accelerating usage of circular materials and methods, timber construction and biobased materials

Timber construction and biobased materials are key in sustainability and the construction sector. Hedgehog is involved in various initiatives to scale up timber construction and biobased materials, such as:

Timber monitor MRA – In collaboration with timber Covenant MRA, we track where and how timber construction projects are realized.
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‍National Actionplan Biobased Construction (NABB) – We are involved in various projects for the NABB, which stimulates the nationwide scaling of usage of biobased materials.
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‍Building Balance and Built by Nature – Through collaboration with these networks, we contribute to knowledge sharing and policy development of timber and other biobased materials.

About us

From strategy to success: real-world applications

Testimonial client

“This is a placeholder”

- Lead name, Company
Sheertex
- 
Chris van Eldijk
, 
Barista Company

"The events sector is a sector with a significant environmental impact. And Barista Company serves more than a million cups of coffee each year; just think how much coffee and ingredients are needed for that. And how much waste is generated. That's why we wanted to know what our impact is, so we can

- 
Pablo Espinar
, 
D-CRBN

"We faced the Hedgehog team with quite a challenge. Our technology is not easy, because it's a very novel field of physics and chemistry. But I experienced the team as very competent. So it was a very interesting collaboration actually and to me, this really proved their flexibility."

- 
Jonne Gorter
, 
Dille & Kamille

"We definitely learned a lot from the LCA. An LCA makes sustainability “real”; you get the facts instead of lingering in a sort of feeling or assumptions."

- 
Yaite Cuesta Arenas
, 
Van Iperen

"Hedgehog is a team of committed young professionals, with the drive to deliver results with real impact in the production process. Their flexibility and open-minded inset make a very nice collaboration experience."

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our FAQs or ask us anything that is not fully covered by sending us a message.

At Hedgehog, we are involved in various initiatives to promote sustainable construction, such as scaling up the use of timber and biobased materials. Through partnerships and projects like the Timber Covenant MRA and the National Approach to Biobased Building (NABB), we aim to transform the construction sector by supporting innovation and policy development.

Timber and biobased materials are renewable resources that have a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional construction materials like concrete and steel. By using timber and other sustainable materials, we can reduce the environmental impact of building projects, promote biodiversity, and enhance the circular economy by facilitating material reuse.

We work on various projects aimed at promoting and scaling the use of biobased materials, including timber, hemp, and straw. We collaborate with industry stakeholders, municipalities, and policymakers to implement practical solutions that can be adopted at a large scale, while also supporting the development of sustainable supply chains for these materials.

Hedgehog supports municipalities and construction companies by offering practical advice, policy recommendations, and expert guidance on implementing sustainable construction practices. We help integrate sustainability goals into building projects and regulations, focusing on areas like circularity, material choices, and energy efficiency.

We actively participate in policy discussions and provide expertise to help shape regulations and strategies for sustainable construction. Through initiatives like the Timber Construction Covenant MRA and the National Approach to Biobased Building (NABB), we help drive the adoption of policies that support sustainable building practices at a national and local level.

You can get involved by partnering with us on projects, joining industry networks like Built by Nature and Building Balance, or advocating for sustainable construction practices within your organization or community. Hedgehog is always open to collaboration with developers, municipalities, and other stakeholders looking to make a positive impact on the environment through sustainable construction.

The Houtbouw MRA Covenant is a collaborative initiative aimed at scaling up timber construction within the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA). The goal is to promote the use of wood as a sustainable and renewable building material, fostering environmentally-friendly construction practices while reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry.

The Timber MRA Covenant aims to increase the use of timber in construction projects throughout the MRA. It encourages innovation in timber construction techniques and materials, while also promoting the circular economy by advocating for the reuse of timber and other sustainable materials. To achieve these objectives, the covenant facilitates collaboration between municipalities, developers, construction companies, and other stakeholders.

For municipalities, the Covenant offers a framework for integrating sustainable building practices into local planning and policy. For developers and construction companies, it provides access to a network of partners, resources, and knowledge to implement timber-based construction projects. Additionally, participants can contribute to meeting regional and national sustainability goals, enhancing their reputations as leaders in sustainable construction.

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Imme

Our expert on
Sustainable construction

Knowledge base

An easy way to learn about sustainability

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Client interview: an LCA for Dille & Kamille to gain insight into the environmental impact of various materials.

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Example calculation Carbon Footprint: How big is the impact of Hedgehog?

What is the environmental impact of Hedgehog? We calculated our Carbon Footprint to find out.

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Italian lunch vs Dutch lunch - which has more impact?

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June 13, 2025

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Get in touch

Whether you are a large or small business, a start-up or a company with a long history, offering a product, process, or service, we respond swiftly and support you in taking your next step.

info@hhc.earth
+31 (0)20 299 1774