Five questions for Lies Marijnissen, Sustainability Manager at BOMA

"What I personally find very important is respect for nature and for others. A future-ready company must combine economic growth with respect for both people and the planet. It's precisely because of my personal interest and BOMA's ambitions that I took on this role. I want to work for a company that makes a positive contribution to society, and I want to support that objective. Let's face it: there's a climate crisis and a shortage of raw materials. A company must take that into account and act accordingly. It's far too late to adopt a wait-and-see attitude."

Earlier this year, we announced our sustainable ambitions, which are outlined in our OneZero vision. The name 'OneZero' refers to continuous development with the ultimate goal of becoming the go-to facility provider for our customers by offering ONE unified solution with ZERO negative impact. In particular, the term 'Zero Impact' really highlights our sustainability ambitions.

To achieve Zero Impact, we need to identify the areas where the company can make the greatest progress in terms of sustainability. It quickly became clear that BOMA's CO2 footprint was an important area where we could make progress in this regard. We now know that 66% of our CO2 emissions come from transport. Thanks to steps taken in the past, BOMA's energy consumption is already very low. For example, our energy policy has allowed us to save 70 TONS of CO2 since 2017, thanks in part to switching to LED lighting and using solar panels.

Additionally, the products we offer must also represent sustainable solutions, that way our customers don't have to worry about sustainability from that perspective. There is also a strong market demand for this as well.

We provide our customers with a complete solution. We do this by consolidating shipments and the flow of goods, which in turn helps reduce traffic congestion and also lowers CO2 emissions. We also offer sustainable products, such as microfiber materials and machines that reduce water and chemical usage. BOMA has always been a pioneer. For example, we were the first to introduce microfiber to the B2B market. And we are still pioneers, with a product range that even includes eco-friendly Probio products Cradle to Cradle certification.

We recently added a fourth pillar to our sustainability policy¿-¿in addition to mobility, concepts and site management¿-¿which is social engagement. For our staff, this includes things like job satisfaction, inclusivity, and health. In recent months, fun activities around these themes have already been organized within the company. We also place a high value on knowledge and strive to contribute in this area as well; not just at BOMA, for society as a whole. We not only organize training courses, but also support sustainable initiatives as well. This is one area where we really strive to stand out.

"It's important to communicate honestly and transparently¿-¿that's what gets employees involved. We want to do more of that in the coming months, and communicate better what we've already accomplished together.

The collaboration with River Cleanup has been a major visible step for our Bomitos (editor's note: BOMA employees). We've already organized various actions, from picking up litter during breaks to participating in large-scale River cleanup events. We're also actively working on sorting waste in our departments, and we provide water through water-saving taps. In our Antwerp offices, we have a smart tire pump that both employees and visitors can use, which has already helped save over 5 tons of CO2. Wherever possible, our sites are equipped with solar panels. And in terms of mobility, we're working to make our vehicle fleet greener. We also offer Bomitos the chance to participate in a bike plan. Biking to work instead of driving reduces CO2 emissions. On top of that, it's a also a healthier option for employees. We recently launched a 'Sustainability Tribe'. This is a group of Bomitos from all levels and departments of the company. Together, we organize a variety of activities related to sustainability. And what could be more motivating than taking part in actions dreamed up by your own colleagues?"

"BOMA has committed to the goal of Zero Impact, and our concrete objective is to achieve CO2-neutral operations by 2030. We'll be greening our vehicle fleet in order to significantly reduce fuel consumption. We're hoping for even more efficient deliveries by introducing smart delivery solutions that avoid unnecessary and polluting transport.

We're also taking measures to assess our product range with a sustainability score. This is an independent score that tells us and our customers how a specific product impacts the environment and human health. This enables us to make informed choices to make our product lineup more sustainable.

"Start by identifying where you can make the biggest impact. Run a baseline assessment and take it from there, starting with small steps. These can already make a difference: think of sustainable detergents, water-saving faucets, thorough waste sorting, or a cleaning robot that uses less water and fewer chemicals. And there's one more important point: it should be enjoyable!"

Check out our sustainable development policy here