In society
At Avantium, sustainability is built into our very purpose. It drives our employees, informs our technology development and excites our commercial partners. Every technology we develop affirms our commitment to helping create a fossil-free future for the planet.
Sustainability Manifesto
The global climate breakdown demands an entirely new way of doing business, moving the world from its dependence on fossil-based resources towards a more sustainable future.
Avantium is focused specifically on accelerating that transition. In the Sustainability Manifesto, Avantuim lays out a pathway to achieving this mission. It sets out our approach to environmental best practice, social justice and transparency, as well as a roadmap of future activities.
Golden
sustainability
rules
Our approach to sustainability will be governed by the following principles. These are our ‘Golden Sustainability Rules’, placing our work towards a fossil-free world at the forefront of everything we do.
Managing environmental footprint
Team for GREEN
We also examine how we use resources at our buildings and facilities and look for ways to improve this. ‘Team for Green’ is a group of Avantium employees, drawn from across the company, who drive ‘bottom up’ environmental initiatives to enhance sustainability implementation at our company’s headquarters in Amsterdam. Recent initiatives include improved policies and practices on waste and recycling, drinking water use, as well as making recommendations on greater access for bicycles and the use of green energy to power the building.
Promoting greener employee travel
Under our Avantium Mobility Plan, we encourage the use of public transport wherever possible. Employees choosing to travel by public transport receive an NS Business chip card which may be used for all work and personal transport across the Netherlands, including train, metro, tram and bus travel, as well as use of the OV bike system.
Exciting
the new
generation
Avantium uses its scientific expertise to excite the next generation about sustainability and renewable chemistry. Several PhD students are working on their theses at Avantium, whilst contributing to the development of our technologies. Furthermore, Avantium has hosted multiple programs and lab tours for children and high school students to teach them how renewable chemistry can contribute to a more sustainable future. We have held an open ‘Weekend of Science’ to attract young students’ attention to the opportunity innovation will play in the journey to a fossil-free world.
Research biodegradation
Avantium produced a digital lesson which chemistry teachers can integrate in their chemistry lessons for 4-5 HAVO or 5-6 VWO classes. With this digital lesson, high school students can get acquainted with renewable chemistry and Avantium’s research into biodegradable and biobased materials. High school students are invited to experience how they can contribute to a sustainable world. We invite students to make a real contribution to Avantium’s research into the biodegradability of materials by conducting experiments with biodegradation. And at the same time we teach them how to conduct reliable, accurate and valid research. They can send in their research results to Avantium via the link.
Lecture: making plastic
The majority of plastic is made from fossil resources. In this video chemist Bert Weckhuysen (Utrecht University) shows how polyesters are made. He also explains whether it would be possible to make plastics from natural materials, and why it is a very bad idea if all these new plastics are biodegradable!
