The drinking-water companies that are part of the Blue Networks (‘Blauwe Netten’) coalition have agreed specific arrangements in six key fields. The initial focus is on making their own energy consumption sustainable through sustainable procurement & generation and by having a more efficient water distribution system. They are also working on making the auxiliary materials that they need for water purification more sustainable.
CIRCULAR WATER NETWORKS
Every year, the drinking-water companies spend about 60 million euro buying piping materials from their suppliers. A Commodities Passport (a ‘Grondstoffenpaspoort’) has now been developed for this infrastructure. This provides useful data on the chain of the materials used and on what happens to them after usage. In this way, the drinking-water companies can reduce their waste flows and improve their recycling of residual materials. The method opted for (namely Rendemint’s PRP Tool for Pre Returnable Procurement) also focuses just as much on the people involved in the chain.
‘Blue Networks is a major step forward,’ says Maria van der Heijden, MVO Nederland director. ‘Not only are the drinking-water companies themselves becoming more sustainable but there are also positive consequences, including for suppliers, for raw materials usage and for the level of renewable energy generation. What’s more, the drinking-water companies are setting a good example for the other sectors. Collaborating means achieving the desired results faster and also means we are fast-tracking the drive towards sustainability in the Netherlands.’
All the Dutch drinking-water companies are part of the Blue Networks coalition, these being: Brabant Water, Dunea, Evides, Oasen, PWN, Vitens, Waterbedrijf Groningen, Waterleidingmaatschappij Drenthe, Waternet and WML.
Links
- Take a look at the video about the Blue Networks coalition.