''At BILLA, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce the impact of our activities on the environment, not only in terms of construction, but also in terms of the operation itself," said Marek Doležal, CEO of BILLA Czech Republic, at the opening ceremony, adding: "This is the first time BILLA is opening an ecological shop made of wood in the Czech Republic. I believe that our experience with the implementation of this construction will help in the construction of other BILLA ecological stores of this type not only in the Czech Republic but also in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe."

The first sustainably built BILLA store, constructed using a prefabricated Sylva™ kit of parts, was completed within four months. This store, made entirely of mass timber, incorporates a range of sustainable technologies. The construction began in July of 2024 and opened in December the same year with a clear focus on sustainability, reducing the carbon footprint, and minimising environmental impact from the outset.

The store’s structure is composed of cross-laminated timber, (Sylva™ CLT Floors, Walls and Roofs) which significantly reduces its carbon footprint.

The Sylva kit generated 14 tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO₂e) to manufacture and two tonnes of CO₂e to transport. Compared to the 206 tonnes of carbon dioxide that the trees removed while growing and will store in the building, this is a small fraction. Choosing Sylva CLT elements instead of non-renewables avoided 309 tonnes of greenhouse gases. (Source: Stora Enso Carbon Calculator.)

Our partners, A2 Timber have over 12 years of experience. Talking about the project Lukáš Krbec said, The wooden frame building is not only economically more advantageous the offsite manufactured components shorten the construction time when we use prefabricated elements instead of reinforced concrete and we can assemble the entire building from them very quickly."

The new store also uses a variety of methods to keep operational emissions low including residual residual heat for cooling, with any excess heat being directed to the underfloor heating system. Rainwater is harvested and used within the store, and photovoltaic panels installed on the roof supply the store with solar energy. Energy-efficient LED lighting with dimming capabilities and modern digital price tags are also part of the store’s sustainable features. Additionally, there are charging stations for electric cars, further promoting environmentally friendly practices.

This project exemplifies the efficiency and sustainability of using the Sylva™ kit of parts in modern construction, demonstrating a commitment to environmentally responsible building practices.

Learn more about the advantages with mass timber download the whitepaper