In cities everywhere, the ground beneath our feet is being reimagined. As climate change pushes urban infrastructure to its limits, the demand for solutions that are not just durable but also sustainable, adaptable, and regenerative has never been higher. GIND is a company turning the overlooked space between paving stones into a climate solution. With its innovative DILE® joint compounds and a clear focus on circularity, GIND is helping cities transform how they manage water, reduce emissions, and design for resilience. In this edition of Climate Tech 100, we explore how GIND is reshaping the future of urban surfaces—one joint at a time.
What makes DILE® Joint Compounds unique compared to conventional joint sealants used in urban infrastructure projects?
First and foremost, their exceptional durability. Thanks to the material’s inherent properties, DILE® offers both stability and flexibility—a crucial combination for any joint application. One of the key advantages is the ability to use high-quality biogenic bituminous binders, which provide the compound with a blend of high performance and unmatched longevity. In addition, DILE® is available in various particle sizes, enabling the creation of highly permeable joint structures tailored to meet the specific demands of any design. This versatility ensures optimal performance in a wide range of urban infrastructure settings.
Can you explain how bio-based binders from cashew nut shells and natural asphalt contribute to both performance and sustainability?
Bio-based binders made from cashew nut shell oil and natural asphalt offer significant advantages in both performance and sustainability. After receiving our first material samples from the supplier B2square, we had the opportunity to test them at the University of Stavanger, comparing them directly with conventional fossil-based bitumen. The results showed that the combination of cashew nut shell oil and natural asphalt provided excellent adhesion and toughness—crucial characteristics for high-performance joint compounds. Switching away from fossil-based binders offers several benefits. First, we’re utilizing a waste product—cashew nut shells—which not only gives the material a new purpose but also allows for reuse after application. This contributes to a more circular economy. From an energy perspective, the bio-based solution is brilliant. Unlike fossil bitumen, it doesn’t require constant heating during transport or production, which significantly reduces energy consumption in the construction industry. This makes it a more sustainable, lower-emission alternative that still meets the high-performance demands of modern infrastructure.
BIO-DILE is recyclable at end-of-life — how does that process work, and how do you ensure it’s truly circular in practice?
When a paved surface needs to be replaced—whether due to maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, or subsurface work—the joint compound can be easily separated from the stone elements. Instead of discarding the material, the removed BIO-DILE mass can be returned to the joint compound manufacturer or delivered to the nearest asphalt plant. Once there, the material is reprocessed and reused, either as part of a new stone paving system or integrated into new asphalt pavement. This ability to reintegrate the material into existing supply chains—without loss of function—ensures that BIO-DILE supports a closed-loop system.
How do GIND’s products help cities adapt to climate challenges like more frequent heavy rainfall and flash flooding?
GIND’s products empower cities to better adapt to climate challenges like intense rainfall and flash flooding by enabling the construction of permeable, resilient, and design-flexible urban surfaces. By offering natural and extensively tested materials in a granular format, GIND makes it possible to build porous surface structures that can effectively manage stormwater—while still being strong enough to handle vehicle and bus traffic. This permeability allows rainwater to infiltrate directly into the ground, helping to reduce runoff, alleviate pressure on drainage systems, and prevent urban flooding. What’s truly innovative is that GIND’s materials, including the DILE® joint compound, have no width constraints, allowing for flexible shapes and forms in stone paving and other surface installations. Unlike traditional systems that relied on interlocking stone designs for structural integrity, the strength of DILE® eliminates the need for restrictive geometries, unlocking creative freedom in landscape architecture. This opens up new opportunities for urban designers to prioritize biodiversity and let nature lead the way, with infrastructure that responds to environmental needs rather than resisting them. GIND doesn’t just support adaptation—it facilitates bold, nature-integrated design solutions for the cities of tomorrow.
What role does permeable pavement play in stormwater management, and how is GIND enabling broader adoption of this approach?
Permeable pavement plays a vital role in stormwater management by allowing rainwater to infiltrate directly through the surface, rather than running off into drains or overwhelming sewer systems. This reduces the risk of urban flooding, minimizes erosion, and helps replenish groundwater—all of which are increasingly important as cities face more extreme and frequent weather events due to climate change. GIND is enabling broader adoption of this approach by addressing the key limitations that have historically held permeable pavement back: 1. Structural Strength Meets Porosity GIND’s joint compounds—like DILE®—make it possible to create permeable surfaces that are also load-bearing, supporting heavy traffic from buses and vehicles. This eliminates the common trade-off between drainage and durability. 2. Material Flexibility The granular structure of GIND’s materials allows designers to customize surface permeability to match local climate, soil conditions, and rainfall patterns. This makes it easy to integrate stormwater management directly into streetscapes, plazas, and sidewalks. 3. Design Freedom & Aesthetic Value With no width limitations or need for rigid interlocking stone patterns, GIND supports innovative and adaptive surface designs—enabling creative, biodiverse public spaces that are both functional and beautiful. 4. Ease of Maintenance and Reuse GIND systems are designed to be recyclable and easy to maintain, reducing lifecycle costs and simplifying long-term care. By making permeable pavement both practical and aspirational, GIND is helping cities transition toward more climate-resilient, sustainable infrastructure—without sacrificing performance or design ambition.
You emphasize circularity in your materials and construction methods—what challenges have you faced in introducing these concepts to traditional infrastructure planning?
One of the main challenges we’ve faced in introducing circularity into traditional infrastructure planning is the short-term budgeting mindset. Many projects are focused on initial costs rather than long-term value, making it difficult to justify materials and methods that offer significant savings and sustainability benefits over time. Another hurdle is a lack of boldness within bureaucratic systems. Public infrastructure planning often favors familiar solutions over innovative approaches, even when the latter are better for the environment and long-term performance. Navigating rigid regulations and risk-averse decision-making can slow down adoption, even when the technology is proven, tested, and ready. Despite these challenges, we’re seeing growing interest from cities and planners who recognize that climate resilience and circular design are no longer optional—they’re essential.
Do you track carbon savings or resource reduction across projects using DILE® products? If so, what kind of impact have you seen so far?
Over time, GIND will be able to demonstrate annual CO₂ savings. GIND train and support clients in leveraging the full benefits of our materials, including the CO₂-negative EPD for BIO-DILE. This allows project suppliers to include our materials in their environmental calculations and reporting.
Which types of projects—bike paths, bridges, public squares—are best suited for GIND’s materials, and where are you seeing the most uptake?
GIND’s materials are highly versatile, but our core focus has been on preserving and revitalizing historic natural stone surfaces in city centers—something we care deeply about, as these are too often replaced by asphalt. We’ve worked extensively in this space, helping cities maintain their heritage while improving surface performance. At the same time, we’re seeing increasing demand across a range of project types. Our materials are well-suited for bike paths due to their thin application, strong friction, and durability. For asphalt repair, we offer an effective solution for cracks, potholes, and even full resurfacing—without removing the existing layer—enabling more efficient, lower-impact upgrades. For bridges the material’s flexibility makes it especially attractive. There is a very high demand for permeable surface solutions in urban areas worldwide. Our solutions are particularly well-suited for use with locally sourced stone materials and can also be applied in the reconstruction of existing pavements and surfaces.
How are you working with municipalities, architects, or contractors to shift the mindset from short-term fixes to long-term regenerative design?
First and foremost, we find that a strong introduction to the story behind our materials often opens people’s eyes. We make a point of explaining where the stone materials come from—typically local washing facilities—and how we’re creating a new market for something that was previously considered waste. Our joint fillers, for instance, are made from stone materials that were once used as grit on winter roads or come directly from construction excavation. By showing how we generate higher value from what was once seen as a by-product, people begin to understand the importance of actively using these resources. When that happens, everyone in the supply chain benefits—from the material handler to the end user. Significant investments have already been made to better utilize these materials, but we still face challenges due to strict regulations in asphalt and concrete production, which often limit the reuse of such masses. In most cases, it’s not about resistance—it’s simply a lack of awareness. People just need to know that we exist, and that it’s fully possible to achieve high quality while also being circular. Once that awareness is there, the conversation shifts from “why?” to “how?”
What’s next for GIND—are you planning to expand internationally, launch new materials, or explore other climate-adaptive infrastructure solutions?
We’re looking to expand our geographical reach—starting with areas where the need is greatest. Our focus on offering real solutions where they’re most urgently needed. One of our key ambitions is to engage in large-scale urban planning projects and support planners in reimagining how we design our cities—especially when it comes to permeable surfaces. We believe this area holds massive potential for addressing both climate adaptation and sustainable development, and we’re eager to contribute with our knowledge and materials. New products are definitely in the pipeline, though we can’t say exactly when they’ll launch just yet. What we can say is that we have developed an innovative paving system designed to integrate with smart technology. GIND is paving the way for smarter infrastructure solutions.
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