Ciril can now officially call itself an SDG Ambassador — the highest United Nations recognition within the Voka Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship, reserved for companies that treat sustainability not as an add-on, but as a daily choice that truly matters.
“Sustainability isn’t a buzzword — it’s a moral responsibility,” says Namjoo Schefer, Customer Experience & Operational Excellence Director at Ciril. “We build in a sector with significant impact. You can’t ignore that.”
That conviction starts from what truly creates value in the city: proximity, quality of life and inclusion.
“Future-fit building is not optional. It’s our compass,” says Pieter Vanhout, Managing Director. “We create projects that are climate-adaptive, participatory and circular — for real people, today and tomorrow.”
The road to get there
The shift began years ago. At first, the focus was on energy performance. Later, the VCDO framework provided clear guidance: what are we already doing well, where are the gaps, and what’s next?
That journey now includes over seventy impactful actions — from energy management and circular materials to biodiversity, mobility and inclusion. Not as one-off campaigns, but as an everyday reflex.
The PSA tool (Project Sustainability Assessment) anchors that reflex. It makes choices visible and measurable, yields insights, and raises the bar project after project.
“That instrument forces us to reflect on impact with every design. That’s how sustainability grows into our DNA,” says Thomas Bijnens, Director of Communications, Marketing & Strategy at Democo Group. “Think of it like working out: you can train alone, but having someone beside you keeps you going.”
Making it tangible
That mindset shows in practice. We don’t demolish automatically — we develop what’s already there. It saves tons of CO₂ and preserves neighbourhood character. In every project we assess what can be kept, which paved surfaces can be removed, and where we can reintroduce green. We choose traceable, bio-based materials and ban products with a high environmental impact or unethical origins. Tropical wood or dubious coatings? No longer.
We integrate shared mobility, foster proximity and encourage behavioural change.
Examples speak for themselves:
In Benedicte (Mortsel) we build in wood, use geothermal energy and deliver energy-positive EPC-A homes.
In Le Jules (Evere) we transform an empty office building into 80 social housing units, reusing the existing structure and car park.
This lowers the environmental footprint and gives families new breathing space in the city.
“We choose places where people truly want to live, work and relax. That’s how you create value for the community and for those who live there,” says Pieter.
Ambassador with ambition
The SDG Ambassador label feels like a reward — but even more like a responsibility. We share our journey openly, both successes and challenges, and invite partners to accelerate with us.
“Too complex? Too expensive? We show it can be done — even in a competitive sector,” says Namjoo.
“Talking, explaining, inspiring — that’s what makes the difference,” adds Thomas.
The journey doesn’t end here. On the contrary: we’ll keep learning, refining and scaling up. From Hasselt to Ghent, from Brussels to Antwerp — every new project carries a clear sustainable mark.
That’s the promise behind this label — and the standard we hold ourselves to, every single day.
