EKOPAK translates sustainability ambitions into BREEAM Outstanding

For a company whose core business revolves around sustainable water solutions, its own headquarters needed to reflect that same ambition. When developing its new headquarters and warehouse, EKOPAK set the bar at BREEAM Outstanding, the highest rating level within BREEAM. With Encon guiding the certification process and carrying out the required technical studies, the project achieved a BREEAM score of more than 85%.

Turning sustainability ambitions into a measurable building standard

Sustainability is directly linked to EKOPAK’s activities and market positioning. For the listed water technology company, a moderate sustainability ambition for its own headquarters would not have been consistent with the standards it promotes to its customers.

BREEAM provided a measurable framework for translating that ambition into the design and construction of the new headquarters and warehouse. Achieving the highest rating level required careful choices throughout the entire project, from materials and technologies to the selection and coordination of contractors. Every decision had to comply with the BREEAM requirements while remaining practical to implement.

Encon makes BREEAM requirements concrete and achievable

Encon’s role was to make BREEAM workable for EKOPAK and the other project partners: what does each requirement mean, how should it be implemented, who needs to take action, and when?

Rather than leaving EKOPAK to interpret the certification framework itself, Encon structured the process and provided frameworks and templates that the team could put into practice. As Ignace De Somer described it during the interview, Encon took on much of the process and structuring work, allowing EKOPAK to focus on implementation.

This guidance was supported by a broad range of specific services. Encon provided the BREEAM guidance together with a daylight simulation, thermal comfort simulation, energy simulation, passive design analysis, low and zero carbon analysis, LCA, LCC, travel plan, climate adaptation plan, rainwater study and building user guide. The combination of certification coordination and technical substantiation helped translate individual measures into documented BREEAM credits.

This distinction was particularly important in a project involving many different parties. Encon provided a clear pathway through the certification requirements, while EKOPAK and its contractors supplied the necessary information and implemented the measures on site.

Outstanding certification reflects measurable building performance

The completed project achieved BREEAM Outstanding with a score of more than 85%. EKOPAK secured all available credits in the Management category and all credits for Water. The latter is particularly relevant for a company whose core business is water technology. Energy also made an important contribution to the final score.

The building demonstrates what those achievements mean in practice. EKOPAK’s headquarters is independent of both mains water and the sewer system. Rainwater and wastewater are treated and reused locally, including as drinking water.

A geothermal heat pump and photovoltaic panels ensure that renewable sources cover 100% of annual energy consumption. High-performance glazing, high-quality insulation and solar shading reduce total energy consumption by approximately 35%, while also supporting year-round thermal comfort.

For EKOPAK, the value therefore extends beyond the certificate itself. The headquarters serves as a tangible demonstration of the sustainability solutions and principles the company brings to the market. The BREEAM Outstanding certification makes that ambition independently measurable and visible, while lower energy demand and independence from mains water and the sewer system also translate sustainability into operational value.