Interview with Sander den Blanken: 'In all places - inside and outside the chain - we make our voices heard!'

Nice of course that companies - like BAM Infra Nederland, for example - talk about 'sustainability and circularity'. But how does this take shape in practice? We spoke to Sander den Blanken, Managing Director of Infra Asset Management and Director of Commercial and Business Development at BAM Infra Nederland. We put four questions to him.

1. What is the definition of sustainability according to BAM Infra?            

"Sustainability is the pursuit of successful business in which projects generate a positive environmental impact. Step by step, because the Netherlands must remain accessible, habitable and safe. If we don't want to work on this, the economy will be damaged. Yes, it's a complicated challenge because we have to deal with space limitations. So what we at BAM Infra Nederland want to do is make a contribution to very concrete solutions and still be able to reconcile conflicting goals in this big picture. Furthermore, let's not forget that making a profit is okay: because, with profits, we can invest and make the business model even more sustainable! That's the way it is!"

2. Achieving sustainability requires investment. Logical. But how does that take practical shape at BAM Infra?     

"You can look at that from different perspectives. For example, on the one hand, you can have a focus on your own impact. So, how do you handle your equipment and waste? How do you direct the processes in the office? On the other hand, it is also about the impact of suppliers, such as with the materials we buy. How does that look practically? Well, by building emission-free we are already making a very substantial contribution. And we can. After all, we have everything in-house - including the resources - to make that happen." 

3. How does BAM Infra Nederland act in practice with regard to reducing the footprint of its direct activities? We are talking here about your scope 1 and 2 footprint.

"Our goal is to reduce carbon intensity. If we measure it, then we can correct for the impact of changes in the company, such as changes in types of projects, business growth and/or divestitures. We have an externally validated Science Based Reduction Target. This corresponds to the path of no more than 1.5 degrees of global warming. Our scope 1 and 2 target in 2026 is 80% reduction compared to 2015."

"We hope to meet our 2026 goal through 100% procurement of certified green electricity and electrification of the leased vehicle fleet and equipment. And we're talking about replacing diesel with certified, sustainable biofuel."

4. And, how does BAM Infra do that in practice with the indirect activities? So, throughout the value chain: the scope 3 footprint?

"Well, waste management, for example, is one of the focal points within our organization. Previously, pallets on construction sites contained a lot of plastic. Naturally, we ask ourselves how we can adjust or reduce this. We are already succeeding well in that! However, most of the scope 3 is in the use of materials such as concrete, asphalt, steel and the fuel consumption of sub-co's. The complexity is great, however, because of the variety of products and supply chains. We are first working toward an improved scope 3 measurement for the high-impact materials such as concrete, steel and asphalt. In the chain, we are therefore looking at opportunities to decarbonize the building environment. Examples include offering low-CO2 asphalt. Or we seek cooperation with concrete suppliers to increase the use of low-CO2 concrete. Of course, this also involves working with steel suppliers to use more sustainable recycled steel." 

"In short ... in all places inside and outside the chain, we are making our voices heard!"