Sustainable Pavement Solutions for Modern Landscapes
In sustainable urban design, surface selection plays a crucial role in managing water, reducing heat, and supporting long-term ecological health. Among the most popular options are fully permeable concrete pavers – such as HydroSTON – and permeable grass pavers. While both provide permeability, HydroSTON offers a more complete and robust solution that combines environmental, economic, and aesthetic advantages with durability and compliance.
In this post we highlight the key areas where permeable concrete and grass pavers differ, and why permeable concrete pavers are your best choice.
- Environmental Responsibility
HydroSTON pavers are 100% permeable across the entire surface, enabling natural infiltration of stormwater into the ground. This process replenishes groundwater, reduces runoff, and helps protect surrounding ecosystems. By capturing and filtering rainwater where it falls, HydroSTON supports sustainable water management and reduces the burden on public drainage systems.
In contrast, permeable grass pavers rely on grass or gravel infill for permeability. While they allow some infiltration, they don’t directly facilitate groundwater recharge and may not deliver the same environmental outcomes in dense or heavily trafficked settings.
- Economic Efficiency
Although the initial investment for fully permeable concrete pavers can be slightly higher, the long-term cost savings are significant. HydroSTON’s integrated drainage capability reduces or eliminates the need for complex stormwater systems, lowering infrastructure and maintenance costs over time.
Permeable grass pavers may appear cost-effective at first but can lead to higher maintenance expenses, particularly in maintaining healthy grass growth or replenishing gravel infill.
- Aesthetic Appeal
HydroSTON’s design flexibility allows for a seamless integration of function and form. Available in a variety of colours, patterns, and finishes, HydroSTON enhances public plazas, walkways, driveways, and car parks with refined architectural appeal.
By comparison, permeable grass pavers offer a more utilitarian look and limited design scope. Their appearance can degrade over time, especially under vehicular stress or in shaded areas where grass struggles to grow. In sunny areas, the paver surrounding the grass cells can also heat up to high temperates and kill the grass.
- Durability and Performance
HydroSTON’s engineered concrete structure provides superior load-bearing capacity and resilience under constant or heavy traffic. These pavers maintain structural stability and permeability even in demanding conditions, minimising the need for repairs or replacements.
Permeable grass pavers, though suitable for low-traffic areas, may deform or shift under pressure and require additional reinforcement to perform in commercial or industrial environments.
- Regulatory Compliance and Sustainability
HydroSTON’s fully permeable design aligns with stringent stormwater and environmental regulations and contributes to Green Star and other sustainable building certifications. Its proven performance supports councils, developers, and designers in achieving environmentally responsible project outcomes.
While permeable grass pavers provide some environmental benefit, they typically don’t meet the same standards of performance, longevity, or certification compliance as HydroSTON.
A Smarter, More Sustainable Choice
By choosing HydroSTON, architects, engineers, and developers gain a solution that balances environmental performance, visual quality, and lifecycle value. HydroSTON’s fully permeable concrete technology not only supports sustainable drainage systems but also enhances the long-term resilience and liveability of urban spaces.