Amsterdam outlines new sustainability measures

The Amsterdam College of Mayor and Alderpersons has outlined new plans to increase the pace of improving sustainability in the Dutch capital. As part of the new motion, the number of households using locally-generated sustainable electricity needs to have increased by at least 92,000 by 2020.

We'll 2013

15th   to  16th May 2013, 's-Hertogenbosch, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands.

Given the fact that demand for food will only increase, the agricultural sector is facing challenges as well as opportunities. It is a huge responsibility to make the right decisions and to determine the right strategy, in order to make it possible to feed nine billion people in both a sustainable and animal friendly way by 2050.

Europe’s First Sustainable Seaweed Farm

Part of the solution for feeding a growing world population and maintaining an ecologically sound water purification facility—at the same time—is afloat in the Netherland’s Oosterschelde estuary.

A pilot seaweed farm, Europe’s first, was opened officially on July 7. And it’s not just a seaweed farm; researchers involved are dedicated to developing an environmentally friendly seaweed cultivation system.

Wooden bridge is centre-point of sustainable development

A heavy load timber bridge has been installed as part of a new sustainable building development in the Netherlands. The development cost Euro 10 million and has taken 13 years to complete.

The bridge, built by Accsys Technologies and using a high technology timber is 16 meters high and can support 60 tonnes of weight.

The route the bridge is built on runs alongside a canal network between lakes in an area of outstanding beauty. This means that the bridge and development was required to be sympathetic to the natural surroundings as well as comply with stringent environmental stipulations.

The wood, trade name Accoya, is a non-toxic, high performance timber sourced from sustainable, fast-growing FSC and PEFC approved forests.

The wood has significant environmental advantages over slow-growing hardwoods or softwoods modified with toxic chemicals.

It is particularly suited to outside constructions where durability and dimensional stability are a high priority and its colour does not degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light. The wood has applications in other industries such as boat building and building construction.