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FROM THE FACTORY IN NOORD- BRABANT TO YOUR GLASS AT VAN DER VALK
ADVERTENTIE
At Van der Valk Hotels, sustainability is high on the agenda, just like at Coca-Cola Europaci c Partners. Folkert Deenik, Hotel Director of De Bilt - Utrecht, speaks with Sigrid Verweij, Director Public A airs of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
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Folkert: "Sigrid, welcome! We notice that guests at Van der Valk Hotels are increasingly interested in how products make their way to them. And since guests regularly enjoy a Coca-Cola with us, I am glad to speak with you about your sustainability initiatives. Perfectly in line with the theme of this edition, by the way: pure nature. Can you tell us more?"
Sigrid: "Thank you, Folkert. It is great to see that sustainability is also a priority at Van der Valk Hotels. Perhaps we can learn something from each other. We also take sustainability very seriously. Our Dutch factory in Dongen, for instance, has been CO2-neutral certifi ed since November 2023."
Folkert: "That sounds impressive! What does this entail exactly?"
Sigrid: "This means that the factory has transitioned from gas to electrifi cation. We use sustainable energy sources like solar and wind energy in collaboration with Eneco. When it comes to logistics, since early 2022, our well known trucks in the Netherlands have been running on biofuel (HVO100), which reduces CO2-emissions up to 90% compared to regular diesel."
Folkert: "That’s great. These kinds of initiatives perfectly align with Van der Valk's sustainability goals. For Example, our hotel has been awarded the Green Key Gold certifi cation. This means that we strive to minimize our ecological footprint, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and contributing to environmental protection."
WATER MANAGEMENT AND LOCAL PRODUCTION
Folkert: "Water is an essential part of your products. How do you manage water?"
Sigrid: "Water is indeed a very important ingredient for us. Our factory in Dongen, built over natural mineral water sources, is the fi rst factory in the Netherlands to receive a platinum Alliance for Water Stewardship certifi cate. We aim to reduce water usage and fi nancially contribute to projects by Natuurmonumenten for water restoration in nearby nature areas."
Folkert: "And what about local production?"
Sigrid: "Our brands are of course well-known global brands, but what most people don't know is how local we operate. Over 85% of our beverages sold in the Netherlands are locally produced in our factory in Dongen- Brabant and ingredients like the sugar we use comes from Dutch sugar beets." PACKAGING AND INNOVATIONS
Folkert: "At Van der Valk De Bilt, we notice that guests are increasingly curious about sustainable packaging. For instance, a guest recently asked me about the sustainability of Coca-Cola's glass bottles. What steps are you taking in sustainable packaging?" Sigrid: "Our glass bottles are designed to be reused up to 25 times and we use 100% recycled plastic for our plastic bottles (excl. cap and label). We recently started making our new red crates, that carry our Horeca bottles, out of 97% recycled plastic. These crates are made from 85% old crates and 15% recycled tulip nets from the Netherlands. Would you have expected that?"
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HEALTHIER OPTIONS
Folkert: "In our hotels, we also notice the growing demand for sugar-free beverages. How are you responding to the demand for healthier options?"
Sigrid: "Nothing different for us Folkert. We continually expand our range of sugar-free beverages. Our goal was that 50% of our sales volume by 2025 would come from drinks with low or no calories. We recently achieved this goal, and of course, we continue to progress after reaching the 50%. Of course, without compromising on taste."
Folkert: "Thank you, Sigrid, for this enlightening conversation. It's good to realize what all goes into getting a bottle of Coca-Cola to our guests as sustainable as possible. It's clear that Coca-Cola is committed to giving back to nature, something our guests certainly appreciate. Cheers!"
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