Rudi Peeters, new CEO of Vandersanden: “Collective Well-being is the reason why I came to Vandersanden”

Spouwen-Bilzen, 11 May 2022 – Brick manufacturer Vandersanden launches its Collective Well-being 2021 report today. In this report, Vandersanden provides a transparent annual overview of its efforts and results in terms of sustainability across four areas: the environment, the (construction) industry, its own employees and the community. The past year’s performance shows once again that Vandersanden is on the right track towards CO2-neutrality by 2050.

In recent years, Vandersanden has already taken huge strides in the field of sustainability, and time did not stand still in 2021 either. In its new report, Vandersanden provides an overview of its ambitions and concrete achievements of the past year. In 2021, Vandersanden was able to boast its first Great Place to Work certification in four countries, as well as ECO packaging with at least 30% recycled material and 80% less ink, which results in 400,000 kg less CO2 each year. In addition, Vandersanden also took further steps in the development of CO2-neutral bricks, the competence development of its employees was broadened, and the brick manufacturer opened a new showroom in Northern France and in Tolkamer (NL). As a true community builder, in 2021, Vandersanden also invested EUR 500,000 in charities at home and abroad.

“Collective Well-being is definitely not window dressing”

Whilst it is Vandersanden’s second Collective Well-being report, it is CEO Rudi Peeters’ first time to co-launch the report. For him, Collective Well-being was a deciding factor in joining Vandersanden: “In my first months at Vandersanden, I saw that Collective Well-being is definitely not window dressing. I immediately noticed that Collective Well-being truly is in the company’s DNA. It is present throughout the organisation, at all levels, among all employees,” says Rudi Peeters, CEO of Vandersanden. “Vandersanden has made tremendous efforts to become greener and more sustainable in recent years. I want to continue that approach. This ranges from baking CO2-neutral bricks to a fully electric fleet, including forklifts.”

This year, Vandersanden highlights the various aspects of its ‘Collective Well-being’: for the environment, in the industry, at work and for the community. In addition to the initiatives taken and achievements made, special attention is also paid to the history of Collective Well-being, and how the concept itself, as well as the operations, have evolved from a deep-rooted conviction to a strategic priority. In addition, a separate chapter is devoted to training & coaching in the workplace and the report places particular emphasis on collaboration with partners in all areas of Collective Well-being. For example, several pages of the report are devoted to a double interview with NGO Cunina and Vandersanden.

Eddy Deconinck, Collective Well-being Director at Vandersanden comments: “It is thanks to the commitment of all our 800 colleagues and partners that Vandersanden can call itself a leader in Collective Well-being and sustainability. The shared belief in climate improvement and energy efficiency motivates us to keep raising the bar in our industry and, of course, the community to which we belong. Thanks to this broad view, Vandersanden is a leader in Collective Well-being today.”

The full sustainability report and more information about Collective Well-being at Vandersanden can be found on their website here.