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Towards a sustainable recovery in Europe

Strukton joins other companies in supporting initiatives that put the emphasis on sustainability within the COVID-19 recovery plans in Europe. Strukton has signed the Green Recovery Statement.

In June, Strukton, together with the members of the Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE), endorsed the importance of a sustainable recovery in the ‘Joint Statement of the Rail Sector on the Forthcoming Strategy for Sustainable and Smart Mobility’. We now have an opportunity of accelerating the sustainability transition. To accomplish this we need to join forces. 

The COVID-19 pandemic affects the entire world. It is as yet impossible to oversee all of the consequences. What is clear, however, is that the crisis also offers opportunities. In the public, as well as private sector, we have proven – sometimes to our own surprise – that we can work together on innovative and sustainable solutions with a great deal of resilience and conviction. Together with many other companies, Strukton is advocating making sustainability the cornerstone of the corona recovery plans, with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as guideline. 

Climate-neutral by 2050

The European Green Deal sets out the ambition for Europe to take a leading role in the transition towards a CO2-neutral economy. The goal is to be entirely climate-neutral by 2050. All sectors and industries play an important role in this. This certainly applies to the sectors in which Strukton operates: civil infrastructure, buildings and railway systems. 

“Mobility is one of the spearheads of the European Green Deal. At the present time the transport sector accounts for almost a quarter of CO2 emissions in Europe,”

says Jacob Zeeman, CEO Strukton Rail.

“Railway transport is one of the greenest transport modalities and is the only modality in which emissions have decreased. Rail must become the backbone of the multimodal transport of the future. As a sector we are striving for this goal in Europe.”

Mark Ooijen, CFO Strukton Worksphere:

“Property accounts for 40% of energy consumption. The opportunities for making buildings more energy efficient are there for the taking. It is technically feasible. However, as a society this means we must be truly open to new developments such as circularity, digitalisation and sharing energy sources.” 

Frank Bekooij, CEO Strukton Civiel, adds.

“We are doing a great deal on circularity within Strukton. Examples include Circuton, Greenfalt, the Green Silence Wall and GBN Artificial Grass Recycling. The real art is to link these sustainable innovations to the larger whole and together with partners and principals to work on a transition that makes a difference,”