Utrecht, 6 July 2023 - Royal Jaarbeurs and circular furniture manufacturer Vepa the furniture factory are entering into a sustainable partnership. The companies are joining forces to make exhibitions and events at the event venue in Utrecht even more sustainable. Marloes van den Berg, Chief Sustainability Officer, Koninklijke Jaarbeurs: "With this cooperation, we can really take big steps towards becoming the most sustainable organiser and facilitator in Europe. The use of materials is one of the elements where we need to take a big sustainability step in the event industry. Vepa is an innovative furniture manufacturer and a leading organisation in sustainability with an eye on the future." From autumn 2023, Vepa's circular chairs and stools will be on display at Jaarbeurs exhibitions and events and exhibitors will be able to order them in a new circular participation package.
Sustainable vision
"We complement each other's vision to work together for a better, sustainable world according to a fully circular cooperation model." Says Erik Luisman, Sustainability & Business Development Vepa. The companies also have a close collaboration with partners BUUR and JMT for the process. BUUR, sister company of Vepa and specialised in circular rental and service packages, manages the stock of special packages for Jaarbeurs in its warehouse. JMT, rental specialist, is responsible for the logistics operation where products are transported and returned from the warehouse to Jaarbeurs.
Circular participation packages
"We want to offer exhibitors at Jaarbeurs 's own exhibitions and events and organisers of the events we facilitate a sustainable choice," states van den Berg. "Vepa's Felt Fine chairs and Felt High bar stools, each made from 68 and 20 PET bottles respectively, will be available in autumn 2023 in our webshop where organisers can order materials for their event. In addition, we will then start offering circular participation packages for exhibitors. Besides the circular chairs and stools, the packages include circular carpet, LED lighting and modular stand construction. With these, we can make a big impact on reducing CO2
|
from left to right Jean-Pierre Brouwers, Marloes van den Berg, Erik Luisman, Toon Mampaey |
Chairs of surgical equipment
Vepa produces sustainable chairs by reusing residual materials, green raw materials and minimal logistics. Vepa's circular chairs were already on display as a pilot in June during Zorg & ICT, a trade fair aimed at healthcare professionals. What was extra special was that the very chairs used there were made of residual materials from operating theatres. Marloes van den Berg: "It is fantastic to be able to show how far we can go with circularity. Material that healthcare professionals themselves throw in the bin at the hospital, they now see back in Vepa's Blue Finn chairs at this fair."
Leftover material from fairs
Vepa goes beyond just reusing materials. Luisman: "Meanwhile, Vepa is among the top sustainable furniture manufacturers in Europe. In Vepa's bio-based Research-Lab, we run pilots and carry out tests with residual materials and raw materials to actually make the impossible possible." To take the cooperation to the next level, Jaarbeurs and Vepa are also identifying the possibility of using residual materials from exhibitions and events to develop new chairs and tables. "Jaarbeurs is continuously taking steps to be Europe's most sustainable event venue and organiser by 2030. With the 2.3 million people we host every year, we can have a positive impact on our environment. From visitor to organiser. Using residual materials from our own events in new furniture completes the circle." Thus Van den Berg.
|
Vepa |
