ABN AMRO Groenbank finances source of inspiration for circularity in Borne

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.”

Recycled and reclaimable

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 BREEAM Outstanding certification and serve as the home base of several of ReintenInfra’s subsidiaries.

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 Groen Spaar Deposito in Dutch) to retail clients, with the guarantee that at least 70 percent of their savings will help facilitate sustainable projects like ReintenInfra’s circular premises. In addition, these savers benefit from an interest rate of 0.85 percent and may even be eligible for tax benefits. Business clients, for their part, can secure green financing on favourable terms. Since its launch in 2018, Groenbank has financed sustainable projects worth half a billion euros.

Perfect sense

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 number of steps towards sustainability and embraces the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Upcycling

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.

Support from Groenbank

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 Subsidy Expertise Department can often provide them with information on potential subsidies as well, and they helped make this project a reality, too. Our clients very much appreciate our dedication and commitment.”

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.”

Interested in green savings?

Read more about the Green Savings Deposit. ABN AMRO Groenbank is making this facility available until sufficient funds have been raised.