Edeka first to build ‘circular supermarket’

Supermarket chain Edeka, the market leader in Germany, is starting the construction of a supermarket that will be completely recyclable, courtesy of new and sustainable wooden building blocks.

Short construction time

In Braunschweig, in the German state of Lower Saxony, Edeka is starting the construction of a special store: the country’s first recyclable supermarket, according to the retailer. The construction will use materials and components that can be reused or recycled to ensure a sustainable circular economy.

Specifically, the 1100 sqm supermarket will be constructed from wooden building blocks called ‘Briqs’, that will be placed on top of each other and locked together with beech-wood dowels. Both the inner and outer walls can be easily dismantled and reused elsewhere at the end of the building’s lifetime. The blocks are manufactured using robot technology from cheap industrial and emergency timber.

Another advantage of the system is its short construction time and greater design flexibility compared to traditional timber frame construction. This construction method emits 50 % less carbon than conventional constructions, the retailer said in a press release. The sustainable supermarket is scheduled to open next spring.