Prince Carlos helps in corporate social responsibility network
Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme visited our head office in Swalmen on 29 September. As a member of the board of MVO Nederland (CSR Netherlands), his focus is on corporate social responsibility (CSR) frontrunners and international CSR themes. He can also do a lot for our customers in terms of networking.
Last summer, Managing Director Henk van Houtum met Prince Carlos at a networking event hosted by MVO Nederland. The Prince indicated during the meeting that he would like to come to Swalmen some time to visit our company and continue our conversation. He visited Van Houtum in September, and Henk provided him with a detailed presentation on the company. Director of Operations Bas Gehlen explained our Cradle to Cradle project. “The Prince was very interested and listened attentively," explains Henk van Houtum. “He sees it as a challenge to help innovative organisations such as ours. He regularly asked about the specific problems we encounter.”
As well as his managerial position with MVO Nederland, Prince Carlos has a foundation that stimulates and supports CSR activities. Not financially, but mainly with regard to networking. “Naturally, the Prince has access to contacts that others don't have," acknowledges Henk van Houtum. “And that's how he tries to use his network for entrepreneurs who are involved in CSR, both nationally and internationally. He can also do a lot for us and our customers. Now he has been here and heard our story, and will take this with him. Wherever he sees opportunities for us – whether they be technological or commercial – he will try to establish a link. With the recycling logistics concept, for example, which Bas recounted to him in detail.”
European rules
“My biggest irritation is that sustainable purchasing is high on the government's agenda as far as policy is concerned, but that it remains difficult to implement in practice” says Henk van Houtum. “The European tendering rules for government contracts are the main problem. When a government agency imposes restrictions such that only one or two parties can submit offers, this is not allowed. On the other hand, the government should have a bit more nerve, although I understand that is rather difficult for a whole ministry. But it certainly is possible. Take the Province of Limburg, for example – with over 1000 employees it is far from a small agency – where the member of the Provincial Executive simply says: ‘Great! If you take back our recycled paper, we'll buy Satino Nature!’ Satino Nature is now being used in the provincial government building in Maastricht. So that's one way of doing things.”