Nieuwkoop Europe and sustainability are inseparable. More than ever, we are aware of the impact that our activities have on the environment. We convert this awareness into action and strive for completely green business practices in which we give back to nature. We would like to take you back to the highlights of 2021: the big and the small. Because every step brings us closer to our goal.
1,049 new solar panels
In 2019, we already installed 1,085 solar panels, but we have almost doubled this number in 2021! In fact, we are now generating enough solar energy to fully use our own green power. We are currently making preparations to supply this power back to network operators by the end of 2022.
Received ISO 14001:2015 certificate
In 2021, we were certified according to the ISO 14001:2015 standard. This demonstrates that we actively maintain an environmental policy. We do this according to established procedures and have an efficient and responsible environmental management system.
42% fewer pesticides used
Of course, we use organic crop protection, but even that is something we would like to minimise. With a 42% reduction, we can say that we succeeded in doing so by 2021. It is also a good sign for the quality of our plants: the healthier the plant, the more resistant it is to diseases and pests.
It's the small sustainable steps that make the difference
We have also made conscious choices in our day-to-day business. In 2021, for instance, we decided to send our Christmas cards to our relations digitally. In addition, about 90% of our NGC customers currently receive their invoice digitally. This saves on ink and paper of about 1200 A4 sheets.
Sustainable deployment
We could not do without our hard-working colleagues who dedicate themselves to you every day. Thanks to them, in 2021 we once again delivered the high quality we strive for. Good staff should be well taken care of. That is why we encourage our employees to grow if they and to participate in training and courses. Despite all the Covid measures and the necessary cancellations, we are proud of those colleagues who did obtain their certificates and diplomas.
For example, 10 employees completed their plant knowledge course, 7 received their forklift certificate, 8 received their spray protection certificate and 2 more employees are now qualified to spray our planters in any colour of paint you want.
Finally, 27 new employees have joined us. This means that on the 1st of January we had reached an exact total of 164 employees.