The Dutch Touring Association ANWB is the largest association in the Netherlands with its 3.9 million members. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy, the ANWB commissioned Partners for Innovation to determine its carbon footprint. ANWB director Guido van Woerkom refers explicitly to this first carbon footprint in the 2007 Social Responsibility Report. The ANWB uses this first footprint to elaborate on its climate strategy and to identify measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

 

The Dutch refrigeration industry aims to be a sector leader in energy efficiency. Sector association NKI therefore held an EcoDesign training, which was developed by FME-CWM and Partners for Innovation. The participants were trained to understand the full range of measures to reduce the environmental footprint of commercial refrigerators and freezers. They prepared themselves for the implementation of the EuP Directive that establishes the framework for ecological requirements of energy-using products. A clear opportunity for NKI companies because of the increasing attention for energy efficiency in the cooling sector!

 

 

Further information: Peter Vissers

SenterNovem asked Partners for Innovation to provide a presentation on networking at the annual event of the Dutch innovation research programmes (IOP), on 20 May 2008. SenterNovem considers that networking is a crucial element of innovation research. Partners for Innovation guided the workshop participants in the main principles of networking through an interactive and inspiring presentation, which can be downloaded here (in Dutch).

Josje Fens is a Master student Energy & Environmental Sciences at the Groningen University and carries out her Masters research at Partners for Innovation. Josje analyses the possibilities to meet the energy demand of rural areas in developing countries by means of renewable energy resources.

When we founded Partners for Innovation in 2004, Jesse Owens inspired us for our corporate identity. Why? Because Jesse Owens was an exceptional athlete: in 1935 he set four world records in four different disciplines within 45 minutes. His long jump record would last for 25 years. We concluded that Jesse Owens had everything needed to tackle climate and environmental issues: character, vision, power, talent, and perseverance.

 

We can learn a lot from sportsmen: they always want to go faster, higher, further. They train, train, train, and are open to new methods and approaches. Their drive is based upon great passion and fun. Much of this also determines how we work at Partners for Innovation. We are doers: How can we use innovation to achieve concrete results in the environmental and energy areas? If we can do it today, why wait for tomorrow?

 

It is therefore not surprising that some of our activities have direct links with sports. For many years we work along with Formula Zero to make hydrogen cart racing take off. This will now become reality: on 22 August the first hydrogen cart races will take place in Rotterdam. In order to support another unique happening we recently sponsored two teams at the 6/12 hours relay event of Haag Atletiek. We are furthermore engaged in introducing zero emission motocross at the highest competition levels. Will this succeed? It is a sport for us to move on with sustainability!