05.11.2025:

On the last day of the Building Green conference, this year's Tscherning Award went to Circrete, which has developed a solution that makes it possible to reuse load-bearing concrete elements directly in new buildings. The jury highlights Circrete for moving concrete recycling from pilot projects to mainstream practice - and for tackling one of the major CO2 culprits in construction.

"Recycling in construction has long been associated with compromise. Circrete addresses the root of one of the biggest culprits in construction - the recycling of concrete elements, which bind a lot of CO₂. It's brave, well-documented and shows the way for our industry, which is in the midst of a necessary change." Says Søren Tscherning, CEO of Tscherning A/S and initiator of the Tscherning Prize.

Jury's reasoning:

Every year, around 800,000 cubic meters of concrete waste is generated in Denmark and the vast majority is crushed or landfilled. Circrete has developed a solution that makes it possible to directly reuse load-bearing concrete elements: columns, beams, walls and slabs.

It's a technological and documentation breakthrough that makes recycling safe, measurable and economically attractive - and significantly reduces the carbon footprint, in many cases to zero in the life cycle assessment.

Circrete shows that the green transition is not just about new materials, but about using existing ones better. The jury honors the company for proving that circular economy in construction can be both responsible and scalable.

"We are incredibly proud of the recognition. Our goal has always been to prove that it is indeed possible to recycle concrete on a large scale - safely, proven and without compromising on quality," says Annika Bang Thomsen, CEO and co-founder of Circrete.

"There is huge potential in rethinking the materials we already have. We hope the award will inspire more builders and consultants to see recycling as a professional choice - not an experiment."

The winner of the Tscherning Prize 2025 was announced on the last day of Building Green in Copenhagen, where Sara Bro hosted the ceremony. The award came with DKK 100,000, which was presented by the chairman of the jury, Søren Tscherning.

The Tscherning Prize jury 

Tscherning is not alone in working towards a more climate-friendly construction industry - or in the view that it is worth celebrating those who contribute something new and different. Together with Søren Tscherning , a qualified jury, consisting of external professionals with different perspectives, has selected the award winner. The jury helps to ensure a broad professional assessment and helps to raise and spread the ambitions behind the award.

The jury in 2025 consists of the following members: 

- René Brandt, Managing Director, Ikano Bolig

- Lasse Lind, Architect and Partner, GXN at 3XN/GXN

- Thomas Dambo, Artist

- Olga Truelsen, Head of Circular Materials and Transformation, Søren Jensen A/S

- Maria Preilev, Business Manager Circular Economy, Danish Technological Institute

- Søren Tscherning, CEO, Tscherning Group

Facts about the Tscherning Prize 

- Awarded once a year by Tscherning

- Grant of 100,000 DKK

- Awarded to students, researchers, companies in and around the construction industry

- Focus on resource responsibility, innovation and the green transition

Further information
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