Ballast Nedam Development has once again taken a historic step in making the construction sector more sustainable. After becoming the first developer in the Netherlands to financially value CO₂ storage in residential construction projects, the company is now bringing the associated Carbon Credits to the market. During the Provada 2025 real estate fair, a world first took place: the very first Carbon Credit originating from a residential construction project—the Natuurhuis—was auctioned. The proceeds, amounting to no less than €3,000 (with a current market value of approximately €100), will be donated by the buyer to the Climate Cleanup Foundation, the organisation that initiated construction stored Carbon Credits.
With this auction, Ballast Nedam Development has taken the first step in actively bringing Carbon Credits from residential construction to the market. At the same time, registration has opened for the first 100 Carbon Credits, available via the online platform www.CarbonCredits.nu. This allows other buyers—from investors to private individuals—to contribute to long-term, nature-based CO₂ storage in the built environment.
Sven Jense, founder of the Climate Cleanup Foundation, calls this one of the most important milestones in the organisation’s history: “For years, people have talked about responsibility towards future generations, but here that responsibility is given real economic substance in construction for the first time. Carbon Credits from biobased construction are now being recognised by investors, pension funds and a broader audience. That is revolutionary. This is not a promise for tomorrow—this is happening now.”
Jim Teunizen, Founding Partner of Alba Concepts, is the proud buyer of the first construction stored Carbon Credit. Stimulating Carbon Credits is something he considers highly important for the construction and real estate sector, both personally and professionally: “This is not about costs, but about value.”
Online registration for the first 100 Carbon Credits has gone live today. Jim challenges everyone to show how much these Carbon Credits are worth to them.
Climate-positive construction gains tangible value
The auction follows Ballast Nedam Development’s earlier announcement to certify and financially value CO₂ storage through biobased construction. This is done via Oncra, the certification platform co-developed by Climate Cleanup. The Natuurhuis—a home that stores more CO₂ than is required to build it—is the first construction project for which CO₂ storage has been certified and is now tradable through Carbon Credits. The goal is to position construction as part of the climate solution, rather than as a climate problem.
By offering these credits, Ballast Nedam Development aims to scale up climate-positive construction and make it attractive to market players. Each traded Carbon Credit represents a demonstrable amount of CO₂ stored in natural materials such as wood, hemp and straw—materials that also contribute to biodiversity, health and circularity.
For more information and registration for the first 100 Carbon Credits, visit www.CarbonCredits.nu
