Laurence Stalmans
interview
Laurence Stalmans has been working at Joris Ide for 3 years now. After a year, she got the chance to further develop the sustainability policy at Joris Ide as a Planet Passionate representative.
What is Planet Passionate?
Planet Passionate is the Kingspan sustainability programme in partnership with the Joris Ide Group. We work around 4 different pillars: energy, circularity, carbon and water. For each pillar we have set a number of targets that we want to achieve by 2030. The first two years of this journey are almost over and a number of important milestones have been achieved.
What is your role as a representative in this?
I am the main contact between Kingspan and the entire JI Division. As a representative I am expected to think about how we can further expand Planet Passionate within and outside Joris Ide. Among other things I look at the feasibility of the set objectives, what extra input we can bring in and report on our current projects.
What are our sustainable challenges for the coming years?
We are doing very well in the field of solar energy! Before 2020, we only had solar panels on 2 sites, by the end of this year we will have 9 sites that are generating solar energy. The ultimate goal is to generate 20% of energy on-site by 2030. It is an on-going project with one action after another.
We also have a big challenge ahead of us in terms of landfill. We work with a number of materials that are difficult to recycle, such as PIR foam and rock wool. It is not easy to find a good, sustainable solution for this. Fortunately, our steel can be 100% recycled.
The past two years, we also installed four rainwater tanks on different sites. These installations will help us achieve our target of collecting 100 million tonnes of rainwater by 2030. We also have the a personal goal this year: 6% of our water consumption has to be rainwater.
Of course, I don't coordinate everything by myself. We work with an international Joris Ide team on the organisation and implementation of all our actions.
How important is it for a company to develop an ecological policy?
For me, this is an essential part of any business strategy. There is no denying climate change and companies have their responsibility in this. Conducting an ecological policy is something that can no longer be ignored in today's society. Everyone has a duty to do their bit for the environment and sustainability.
However, I do not think that everyone has to be perfect. What is important is to show initiative and to make an effort. That way, we will make a lot of progress. I am pleased to see that Joris Ide has the initiative and the entrepreneurial spirit. With the Planet Passionate project, the right tone has been set.