Emma is manager corporate sustainability at Demcon and, like many of her colleagues, joined the company via the University of Twente. Together with communications specialist Mika Bakker, she talks enthusiastically about the sustainable ambitions of the high-tech company from Twente. “For us, sustainable mobility is not a goal in itself, but a logical part of who we are and how we want to work.”
Cyclists from Germany to Wierden
“We have colleagues who cycle considerable distances to the office every day, for example from the border region near Nordhorn in Germany,” Emma continues. “Another colleague commutes daily on a speed pedelec from Wierden via the F35 route (30 kilometers). The great thing is: whether you come by bike or by car, you receive the same mileage allowance. That makes it appealing to invest in a good bike, such as a speed pedelec, while also investing in your own vitality.”
The organization actively promotes cycling through a bike plan, a lease-bike scheme, and company bikes for off-site appointments. However, the growing number of cyclists has also brought new challenges.
News flash at the coffee machine
Sustainability is alive at Demcon. Not with big words, but through concrete actions and clear communication. “We don’t want to overload our people with information,” says Mika. “That’s why we have the news flash at the coffee machines and in the restrooms: a short, fresh update on everything happening around topics like sustainability and vitality. A quick read while you wait for your coffee, keeping the subject accessible and up to date.”
The news flash is part of a broader approach at Demcon, where themes such as vitality, inclusion, and sustainable employability are recurring. “We organize sports clinics, offer discounts for swimming and skating during lunch breaks, and sponsor local sporting events, where Demcon teams actively take part.”
Workgroups: sustainability as a conversation and a design principle
Sustainability isn’t a top-down topic, it truly resonates with our colleagues as shown by the various workgroups. “For example, we have the Sustainable Design workgroup, where colleagues collaborate on how to embed sustainability into our projects,” Emma explains. “And it goes beyond just materials: we also look at how to design products so they last longer and are easy to repair.”
Sometimes, that even means Demcon takes a financial hit. “We consciously choose to make products that last, even if that results in fewer repeat orders. But that aligns with our vision: creating impact matters more than short-term profit.”
Colleagues talk about sustainability, share ideas, and seek each other out to work on improvements together. “The topic is alive and that makes it a great place to work.”
A warm organizational culture
Mika and Emma light up when they talk about Demcon: not in a fake way, but because they’re genuinely happy to work here.
“What helps is that, even with 1,100 employees, it still feels like a flat organization,” says Mika. “Anyone can just walk into the CEO’s office. New colleagues always have a conversation with the founders, where they hear the story and culture of Demcon.”
According to Mika, that culture makes people feel involved and confident to share ideas. “That’s one of the things I really appreciate about Demcon. If you speak up about what could be improved, whether it’s the bike parking or recyclable coffee cups, something actually gets done.”
Read the full article (Dutch) on Overijssel Onderweg : https://overijsselonderweg.nl/nieuws/duurzaamheid-bij-demcon-geen-project-maar-een-manier-van-doen/
