Nowadays offering a high - quality top product is no longer enough to fully meet the client ’s expectations . Director Jan van Genderen explicate why he believes sustainability is an chance to determine his party aside . ‘ It is about so much more than just growing a great product . ’
Royal Berry ’s acreage has now develop to 48 hectare . One one-half is under crank , the other 24 hectares are outdoors . At the age of seventeen , Jan start out growing strawberries with a 4000 straight meter glasshouse , which was more than four times the size of his father ’s .
A base built on client satisfactionAnd thinking big is essential when regard the maturate requirement for sustainable product . Jan explains the rise of sustainable product : ‘ We are 100 % drive by what the consumer wants . After all , the consumer find out the need at the supermarkets , and they are our gravid customer . In other words : through the supermarkets , consumer behavior directly affects our company . There is way more need for sustainable Cartesian product now than there was ten years ago . The difference from just three years ago is already massive in that regard . ’
This call for sustainable product requires innovation and adaptability . And the strawberry giant star is happy to embrace these developments . ‘ Of naturally , it is not always gentle , but that is precisely why it is an chance to really place ourselves apart . After all , if it was easy , everyone would do it . But if you see that you could meet the demand for sustainably grow products , you could beef up the James Bond with your customers , ’ Jan enthuse . ‘ It produce it much harder for client to find an alternative .
More than just atomic number 6 emissionsA surprising example pops up when discussing staff policy . ‘ In clock time of staff shortages , it is literally unacceptable to run a company well while ignoring the longsighted term . That is why , above all , we attempt to assure that mass palpate at home with us , ’ says Jan , emphasizing the importance of being a beneficial employer . The numeral of employees at Royal Berry varies from 30 to around 350 people . ‘ We manage the intact process from adjustment to payment in - home . That includes everyone ’s insurance . Everything must be decent organized . We have to take precaution of the entire chain ; sustainability goes so much further than just carbon emissions . ’
These carbon emissions are inextricably join to creating a special climate , which is the heart and soul business of a horticultural caller . ‘ This is a challenge , of class , and that ’s incisively what involve a professional approach . We judge to create the best possible climate while use up as little energy as possible , ’ Jan elaborates enthusiastically , explain various sustainable applications . ‘ We have invest intemperately in solar vigor . All commercial edifice that do not have plant life in them are covered with solar panels . Outside we also have an idle plot of ground full of panels . All in all , it ’s an area of around one hectare . This create it possible to generate more energy than we consume from March to September , ’ Jan clarifies .
In addition , the ignition comprise of dimmable LED and a screen system is used to regulate sunshine . ‘ In 2017 , we became the first to lead off using Svensson ’s Luxous 1147 FR textile . This sieve closes if too much light comes in from the exterior , but still let sufficient light through . In terms of muscularity , there are real , lineal gains . You really notice that you have to pump less heat into the greenhouses ; you need 47 % less energy , and that has a huge impact . Immediately , ’ Jan sound out , explain the choice of these app .
One of the site , Salvia , has both greenhouse cultivation ( 6.5 hour angle . ) and out-of-door cultivation ( 7 ha . ) . Jan explains this as another example of a sustainable solvent : ‘ This particular site is one hundred per centum energy neutral because it has been connected to a biomass power post . Everything allow our company to take small steps in sustainability every sentence . Of of course , you ca n’t become muscularity electroneutral in one fell slide . ’
Take the CHP , for example , which is still required , peculiarly during the winter months . ‘ Of of course solar and wind instrument energy are great , but they are not always usable . In my view , the CHP is still a super - efficient and relatively clean alternative when there ’s no Lord’s Day or malarkey . Thanks to the CHP , you ’re still flexible . This flexibility is crucial , but the surcharge on the electrical energy charge per unit does puzzle a job in this respect , ’ Jan say , succinctly summarise up the current problems on the push market .
What the time to come holdsDoes that make any concerns for the future ? ‘ No , I am very positive about the future tense of sustainability , ’ Jan conclude cheerfully . ‘ The Netherlands is a beautiful country with a lot of innovative power and an entrepreneurial spirit . The right stakeholders must enter into a talks with each other and work together . Currently , businesses tend to get surprised by government insurance policy , and the other agency around . But we live in a state where a lot of things go well , and we have to make on that . This will give up us to make veridical sustainability gains and make the world so much nicer as a result . ’
