32 Action area Resources | Mine Renaturation

Renaturation

:

habitat for new biodiversit

y

Ceramic manufacturing requires resources and raw materials

,

above all clay, kaolin, quartz and feldspar. For its German

facilities alone, Duravit Germany handled around 4,000 tons

each of clay and kaolin in 2023. Alongside reliable and stable

supply chains, we make sure that we work with responsibl

e

partners such as Imerys, who can demonstrate a high level of

sustainability in their own processes. The key here is th

e

careful and invaluable renaturation of mines and quarries

after the raw materials have been extracted in order to keep

the impacts of the extraction to a minimum

.

For example, in Cornwall, England a range of natural habitats

and biotopes are being created in the newly designed

environment despite the temporary interference with th

e

landscape and nature. Recultivation and renaturation enable

a varied ecosystem to emerge, consisting of wetlands

,

ponds, broad-leaf woodlands, near-natural watercourses

,

and much more.

Nutritious soil consisting of

fine sand mixed with compostable

waste is created and serves as the basis for new, biodiverse

habitats.

One particularly sustainable route to renaturation has been

found in Villers, France: construction work for the 202

4

Olympic Games in Paris created a significant quantity of

excavated material. Because Villers is less than 100 kilometers

away from Paris and is also accessible via waterways, the

material was transported to the quarry with a low carbon

footprint. In this way, the “Olympic soil” helped to recreat

e

the original look of the Villers landscape

.

However, quarries or mines often offer added value in eco-

logical terms even while excavation operations are ongoing

.

The signi

ficant changes wrought to these landscapes by

human activity and the associated low levels of biodiversity

often make such extraction sites attractive to

flora and fauna

and give rise to completely new types of biodiversity

.

Open-cast clay and kaolin mines are retreats for many

threatened species and the extraction work can continually

offer them new spaces in which to settle. Initially, a fe

w

“scout species” in the open-cast mine will often be followe

d

by “guests” who like the habitat so much that they becom

e

permanent “settlers”. One of these is the tree frog, which i

s

rarely seen elsewhere. With the exception of the flood plains

of the Upper Rhine, it is only found in open-cast clay mines.

Similarly, the rare plover has made clay pits its favorite habitat,

which it shares with up to 19 species of dragon

fly.

The lasting availability of large stretches of water is especially

important for biodiversity. These range from puddles, whic

h

only carry water temporarily, through to the large tailing pond

s

which are filled with water all year round.

Befor

e

After