ABN AMRO BANK N.V. Based in the Dutch town of Borne, ReintenInfra BV is a key player in road construction and demolition. Plans to build new business premises proved to be the perfect opportunity for the company to put its own waste flows to good use. Thanks to financing from ABN AMRO Groenbank, the firm's stunning circular premises can now be admired from the A1 motorway. The building and its furnishings were created from materials reclaimed from the firm's own projects.
Once the idea had taken hold, there was no turning back, says Herman Reinten, general manager of ReintenInfra. "Initially, we wanted the design to be in harmony with its rural surroundings," he says. "But it wasn't long before we went one step further and asked ourselves, what if we built the new premises using reclaimed materials? This concept guided the project from start to finish. Our staff came up with all sorts of circular ideas, and that's when things really took off."
Reminiscent of a traditional Dutch farmhouse, the premises consist of a workshop and several offices appurtenant to it. Eighty percent of all the building materials were reclaimed from ReintenInfra's own demolition and other projects. From the carpet tiles and wooden walls to the wall sockets and suspended ceilings, practically everything has been recycled and can be disassembled. Even most of the concrete used in the building is circular. The new premises were recently awarded
The building project came to fruition thanks in part to a financing package from ABN AMRO Groenbank, which is committed to accelerating the transition to a sustainable society, and with guidance and support from Relationship Manager Elise Havinga.
ABN AMRO Groenbank is marketing a Green Savings Account (called the
Fittingly enough, ReintenInfra's first meeting to discuss its new building plans with the bank was held at Circl, ABN AMRO's own circular building in Amsterdam. "The great thing about this project was ReintenInfra's intrinsic motivation to create something truly special," says Krista Overwater, manager of Groenbank. "They thought very carefully about what exactly they wanted to achieve. To be honest, it was also a choice that made perfect sense, since ReintenInfra had already taken a
ReintenInfra's exciting project involved both recycling and upcycling, in addition to taking the social side of sustainability into account. For instance, old fishing nets salvaged from developing countries were transformed into a beautiful designer carpet. Plus many of the materials used in the interior were made or cleaned by individuals who have often been excluded from the labour market.
"I should mention that we're especially proud of the roof," Herman says. "All 12,000 of the roof tiles came from the demolished town hall in Weerselo. The roof alone has saved us eight tons in carbon emissions."
Unfortunately, reuse wasn't always an option, since not all the materials, like the wooden beams in the roof ridge, met new-build requirements or specifications. In these cases, the firm sourced materials locally - the wood, for example, comes from the nearby town of Ootmarsum.
Krista says it's important to remember that sustainable or circular builds aren't always easy: "They generally demand greater coordination and more expertise. We at Groenbank really do try to make everything as easy as possible for our clients - not just through financing, but also in terms of the advice and support we provide. We've built up a lot of experience now both with Circl and with other building projects we've financed. Our
ReintenInfra's new premises could well have a knock-on effect, Krista believes: "Getting the word out about projects like this one inspires other companies. They think to themselves, 'If they can do it, so can we.' It's just one more way we're helping one another make the transition to a more sustainable world."
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ABN Amro Bank NV published this content on 27 October 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 26 October 2022 00:17:08 UTC.
