Paul van der Meer, Operations Manager & Environmental Coordinator, about the transition to sustainable steel and its impact on Van der Valk Solar Systems.
Who are you and what is your role at Van der Valk Solar Systems?
My name is Paul van der Meer. I am the Operations Manager at Van der Valk Solar Systems. Van der Valk Solar Systems develops and manufactures mounting systems for solar panels for all surfaces, but primarily flat and pitched roofs.
In addition to my role as Operations Manager, I also serve as the Environmental Coordinator. This means I handle all environmental matters and associated certifications. One of the projects I oversee is the transition to more sustainable steel, which we refer to as Green Steel.
Can you explain why the transition to sustainable steel was made?
Sustainability is one of the four core values of our company. This means we continuously seek opportunities to make our products more sustainable. This can be achieved by ensuring a longer lifespan, possibilities for reusing parts at the end of their use, and recycling.
Furthermore, we can leverage our influence in the supply chain to advance sustainability in (production) processes. The use of Green Steel fits perfectly with our mission, as it contributes to the greening of steel production.
What are the specific applications or projects for which Van der Valk Solar Systems uses Green Steel?
The ValkPro+ mounting system, for installing solar panels on flat roofs, consists largely of steel components. This mounting system is very popular and is used in many countries across Europe. Our plan is to gradually convert the steel components of this system to Green Steel.
What impact does sustainability have on the company, and what role does Green Steel play in this?
Sustainability has a significant impact on our company, not only from our own core values but also due to the growing demand from our customers. Green Steel helps us to make the processes in the supply chain more sustainable, allowing us to reduce the overall carbon footprint of our products.
Want to know more about Green Steel and its applications? Read more