Deputies Anouk Gielen (Nature, Climate and Energy) and Esther Rommel (Economy and Ports) visited the port area of IJmuiden today. There they saw how entrepreneurs, partly thanks to subsidies from the province, are making their businesses more sustainable.
The port at the mouth of the North Sea Canal area is, with an area of 150 hectares and nearly 500 companies, the largest industrial area in the municipality of Velsen. The area is not only an important storage location for the fishing industry but also the site of various manufacturing factories and a large number of car companies.
Cleaner, more sustainable and safer
On such a large and dynamic site, good cooperation is important, said park manager Jeroen Zorgdrager during the working visit. Since 2016, about 380 companies have therefore been working together in a Business Investment Zone (BIZ) to make the port area cleaner, more sustainable and safer. And successfully so. The number of incidents decreased by 40%, partly thanks to security cameras at 30 locations and extra lighting. Moreover, many entrepreneurs are working hard to make their operations more energy-efficient and climate-resilient. From solar panels and heat pumps to electric company vehicles and planters on the site.
Fish processor Interfish, for example, has been busy with sustainability for 15 years. Meanwhile, the roof of their building is covered with 820 solar panels. The company also has a CO2-neutral cooling installation, 5 electric company cars and 4 charging stations. “A few years ago, our foreign customers asked what we do about sustainability. That’s when we started with measures,” said owner Henk van der Deijl. “Where possible, we do our part to become CO2-neutral. I also enjoy that.”
Sustainability is alive
The province is making over €2 million available to help companies and municipalities with this sustainability effort. These subsidies are intended to improve and make industrial areas, ports and shopping areas more sustainable. Deputy Gielen was therefore pleased that the efforts of entrepreneurs and the financial support of the province are yielding results. “It is nice to see how the IJmuiden industrial area is working on greening and sustainability. That is hopeful! It really comes from the entrepreneurs themselves: sustainability is alive. Glad we can contribute to that.”
Her colleague Rommel agreed. “I have seen great examples of entrepreneurs who work passionately on sustainability and a healthy living environment. Not because they have to, but because they want to. As a province, we want to contribute to this.”
New subsidy applications from February 10
As an entrepreneur, also get started with energy use, water use, nature inclusiveness, circularity, climate adaptation and spatial quality? The subsidies Sustainable industrial areas North Holland (TOBED) and Support Sustainable Work Locations (OTW) open on February 10 for new applications.