Bram Peters thinks it is only natural to use what you already have. And that is exactly what his company Save Plastics does: it makes sustainable products for outdoor spaces from plastic waste. 'We don't see waste, but a valuable raw material. These days we call that circular enterprise, in the past it was simply called smart procurement and smart use of materials.'
After completing his degree in Nature and Environmental Management, Bram decided to join his father’s business, which recycled agricultural film into raw materials. It gave me a real sense of fulfilment to be able to do my bit
to a better world.’ But he also wanted to do something tangible, so Bram set about looking for ways to make products from recycled plastic. In this way, he developed the venture into the company it is today: a circular economy frontrunner in the Netherlands, designing sustainable products for outdoor spaces using plastic waste as a base. In the Netherlands alone, we throw away 1.3 billion kilos of household plastic waste every year. A shame, says Bram. ‘Plastic is the perfect raw material for indestructible products. Lampposts, bridges, benches, picnic tables, revetments: the possibilities are endless.’
Green plastic factory
Bram: 'In the Netherlands, there are a few large sorting companies to which household waste is taken. After high-quality plastic, such as PET bottles, is first removed from the plastic waste, about 60 per cent difficult-to-process plastic remains. This is normally incinerated. In Almere, we are now building a Green Plastic Factory, where we will give this plastic a second life by turning it into new products.' The factory is part of the Transform-CE project, which aims to recycle plastic at a high level so that it retains value and enters a cycle of reuse. 'This is our first concrete project where we are working circularly with local plastic waste. We hope to roll it out in several regions in the future. Ultimately, we want to tackle the problem globally.'
“ We’ve started to look at our products in a different light ”
Bram Peters, managing director Save Plastics
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Almere is the youngest city in the Netherlands and rapidly developing, which makes it attractive for startups and innovative, sustainable businesses. The city offers a unique blend of technological progress and sustainable transition, with contemporary infrastructure and convenient location and potential test environments. Almere promotes growth and collaboration, offering entrepreneurs the space to pioneer, innovate and flourish. Almere gives entrepreneurs space!
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