On the 1st of October Michael Braungart and our Managing Director Henk van Houtum signed the “Cradle to Cradle Organization” Charter. ‘This is a confirmation of the road we’re on,’ explains Henk. ‘We want to be a company with a positive agenda.’
About a dozen companies worldwide are entitled to use the name “Cradle to Cradle Charter Organization”. This is a recognition of organizations which implement C2C design principles and practice in their products, services, operations and organizational change efforts.
‘Right now we have some products that are C2C certified,’ explains Henk. ‘But basically we are developing a roadmap for the future on all aspects of our business.’
Optimizing the good things
Michael Braungart – one of the founding fathers of the MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry) – states that people often concentrate on the wrong things. ‘Entrepreneurs have been trying to be “less bad” for so long. Why? Don’t be ashamed of your product and company! The challenge lies in optimizing the right things, in re-inventing and re-designing them. That is why the C2C Organization Charter is so important.
‘It’s all about eco-effectiveness,’ says Henk. ‘You need to do the right things right. Our company uses recycled paper for fourty-five years, which for us was nothing special. But actually it is quite innovative! In addition we have a low energy consumption as we produce energy ourselves. All of this is achieved in a natural way because of our deep respect for people and planet. It’s just our way of life.
The Challenge of Van Houtum:
• Helping its customers becoming sustainable with Satino Black;
• Being a vital and inspiring employer;
• Creating a fantastic and healthy environment for all its neighbours;
• Working CO2 positive;
• Increasing the use of local raw materials;
• Making cycles with its suppliers and customers.