Last week Platform Groene Hart Circulair paid a visit to Groenendijk Bedrijfskleding – an inspiring company where circularity has been central since its establishment. Director Jaap Groeneweg welcomed Jacques Rozendaal (chairman Platform Groene Hart Circulair and alderman of the municipality of Woerden), Peter Ewalts (account manager municipality of Woerden) and Suzanne Schoehuijs-Van der Knaap (communications, GHC).
Circularly remodeled office building
Groenendijk’s current premises were realized by renovating an existing hall complex in Woerden. One principle was central to this: build as sustainably and circularly as possible.
“We deliberately chose recycled and reused materials,” Groeneweg says. This is visible throughout the building:
- Existing window frames have been wrapped and reused
- Insulation material from previous building given second life
- Old interior frames are fitted with fire-resistant glass and now serve as partitions
- There are as many as 4,000 solar panels on the roof
- A smart air conditioning system provides approximately 80% energy savings
- Outdoor picnic tables are made of used textiles
The result: an office building that is not only functional, but also a model of circular thinking.
International ambitions
Since Jan. 1, 2025, Groenendijk has been part of Lyreco, an international player in office supplies and workplace solutions. There, too, circularity is high on the agenda. Lyreco has ambitious goals, such as a full range of recyclable products. Developing a standard for the circular economy within the workplace industry, together with European stakeholders is also among its ambitions.
Challenges and vision for the future
Despite the progress, there are also challenges. For example, Groenendijk runs into legal and regulatory restrictions that prevent collected clothing from simply being delivered back to producers.
Yet the ambition remains undiminished. Sustainability manager Iris van Wanrooij explains:
“By 2030, we want 90% of all textile products sold to be recycled or derived from sustainably grown raw materials.”
Who will follow?
Do you know a company in the Green Heart that also excels in circularity and deserves a stage? Let us know via info@groenehartcirculair.nl.
