Ridderkerk gets more than 1450 meters long noise barrier made of Dutch fiber hemp
The municipality of Ridderkerk has added a very special noise barrier, namely one that is filled with hemp (lime)! On Monday, June 29, 2020, the certificate of ownership of the more than 1450 meter long screen was officially handed over by Greenwall BV to the municipality of Ridderkerk, represented by aldermen Peter Meij (CDA) and Marten Japenga (ChristenUnie). Also present was the co-founder of the NL Greenlabel foundation, Lodewijk Hoekstra (known from, among other things, the TV program Eigen Huis & Tuin).
Choose green
The noise barrier on the embankment next to the Rotterdamseweg, near the Het Zand and Drievliet districts, clearly needed to be replaced. It turned out to be a challenge: the ground was subsiding, while the municipality also wanted to take into account matters such as price, lifespan, acoustics and aesthetics. A precondition was also that the existing greenery was preserved as much as possible. Mariëlle Heijboer (BAR organization, municipality of Ridderkerk) put her shoulders to the wheel, and mainly focused on ‘green’. Ultimately, the ideal solution was found in a hemp lime noise barrier from Greenwall BV.
To think differently
Hoekstra (NL Greenlabel foundation) takes on the role of moderator at this festive handover. In conversation with the two aldermen, the TV gardener tells candidly about the origin of his foundation: “I found out that as a gardener I was destroying everything. I made the gardens beautiful, but often plastic products and pesticides were used. I started to think differently about the production phase and the impact I could make. This resulted in the establishment of the NL Greenlabel foundation. Ten years later, we have completed 10 green deals and have built up an extensive network of more than 200 partners. Greenwall was also one of our first partners.”
Ridderkerk plays a pioneering role
Aldermen Meij (public spaces) and Japenga (sustainability / circular economy) also attach great importance to sustainability. Japenga: “It is important to ensure that everything is properly maintained. Greenery and outdoor space also have to do with air and sound. We are working hard on that in Ridderkerk.” Meij adds: “We have a long-term vision, and it starts with a green vision.” When signing the property declaration, the municipality receives a compliment from Erik Muggen (Greenwall): “I am pleased to see that you are playing such a pioneering role. You are an example for other municipalities.”
90% sound absorption
It was not known to aldermen or officials that the noise barriers were filled with hemp of lime. And that’s a good thing: hemp was specifically chosen because of its extremely good sound-insulating properties. Muggen explain: “With hemp lime, the sound absorption is particularly high, namely 90%. In comparison: glass and concrete have an absorption value of 0%. The good absorption of hemp lime has to do with the fact that it is vapor permeable and therefore very porous. And the more porous the material, the better the absorption value. Unlike with glass or stone, hemp lime does not have any reverberation.”
A-label for Sustainability
Greenwall noise barriers consist of 4 components, including a substrate (the interior of the screen). For some time, Greenwall had been looking for an alternative to this substrate, on the condition that it had to be at least as sustainable. They found what they were looking for not far from home: hemp wood from fiber hemp grower and processor Dun Agro. Together, the companies developed the Greenwall® hemp mix, a mixture of hemp wood and lime. The final noise barrier received an A-label in the field of Sustainability from the NL Greenlabel foundation.
Nice example of regional cooperation
The Dun Agro hemp wood that is used for the Greenwall hemp mix is from Dutch soil, and the panels from which the noise barriers are constructed are produced in the Netherlands. In addition to the material, the collaboration between the two parties also appears to be sustainable, according to Jacob Jan Oostra (Greenwall BV): “The intention is that 90% of all Greenwall screens will be filled with hemp. A few new requests have already been received in Emmen, Moergestel and even a second project in Ridderkerk.”
Also for consumers?
Although Greenwall is not specifically aimed at consumers, it is certainly possible to have a partition wall made for your own home / garden. But it is also interesting for school playgrounds, for example. It is mainly about durability and aesthetics. The fact that the screens also block sound well is a big plus. And for those wondering: the hemp mix in the noise barrier is very resistant to rain. After getting wet for the first time, the material hardens when it dries so that it remains water resistant for years. And at the end of its life, the material can go straight into the compost heap!
Details Greenwall hemp noise barrier
Length: 1468 meters
Height: alternately from 0.5 to 2 meters high
Thickness: 982 meters are panels of 16 cm, the other 470 meters are trapezoidal and on average 30 cm thick
Surface: 2500m2
Materials used: steel cage, inlaid with coconut cloth, and a hemp wood core (‘Greenwall® hemp mix’; 50% hemp wood, 50% lime)
Planting of the screens: large-leaved and evergreen ivy (Hedera Hibernica), 2 species of honeysuckle (Lonicera Henryi and Lonicera Japonica) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus Quinquefolia).
Lifespan: 30-40 years
Advantages: high sound absorption (90%), sustainable and locally produced product, requires little to no maintenance, does not invite graffiti/vandalism
About Greenwall BV
Greenwall BV is specialized in the production of soundproof fences. The uniqueness of their concept is that only organic (biodegradable) or recyclable materials are used, without environmentally harmful elements, plastics, plastics or contaminants.
More information: www.greenwall.nl
Over Dun Agro
The Dun Agro Hemp Group has been active in the hemp industry for more than 25 years, in both food and fiber sectors, and from agriculture to finished product. Dun Agro has developed proprietary technologies for most purposes and is at the forefront of innovation and the hemp industry value chain.
More information:www.dunagrohempgroup.nl