Seenons x Schiphol: a Hub of constant movement
Schiphol is always in motion: planes take off and land, passengers come and go, staff are constantly working, and materials are continuously on the move. We are proud to support this dynamic environment in a sustainable way. For over a year now, we’ve been working with Schiphol Group to reduce its environmental impact. Our shared goal? A waste-free airport by 2030 and fully circular airports by 2050.
Collaborating for a Sustainable Schiphol: An Overview
The first steps
In the first year of our collaboration with Schiphol Group, we focused on building a solid zero waste roadmap. Our partnership with waste processor Renewi provided the necessary structure. Seenons’ tech platform offered Schiphol visibility into its waste management process and access to an innovative network of logistics and processing partners. Additionally, we helped develop sustainable initiatives to reduce material consumption. In 2024, we began setting up Zero Waste offices led by EcoSmart, a service that combines cleaning and waste management. As part of Renewi, EcoSmart specializes in office environments but can also operate independently, offering flexible solutions for sustainable waste management.
Circular thinking
When parts of terminals or offices are renovated, furniture often becomes surplus to requirements. Schiphol asked us to help repurpose 50 office chairs to prevent them from ending up as residual waste. We worked with Berry van der Burgt from Euro Rotor, who found new destinations for the chairs. With Renewi’s assistance, we ensured the chairs were ready for transport, making it easy for Euro Rotor to collect and prepare them for reuse..
Our goal is to prevent waste, particularly of materials that can be given a second life. By demonstrating that reuse is both possible and simple, we’re raising awareness of material value, both within and beyond Schiphol. One highlight of this effort was that the next batch of chairs didn’t even have to leave the Schiphol site; they were reused internally by other departments. This is circular thinking in action.
Empowering passengers to recycle
When people think of Schiphol, they often picture the airport in Amsterdam. However, Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTHA) is also part of Schiphol Group. Together with Renewi, we are taking steps toward achieving the zero waste mission at both locations. Earlier this year, new bins were installed at Rotterdam Airport for five different waste streams, enabling waste separation at the source for more efficient processing and less residual waste. In Amsterdam, we are optimizing existing bins, starting with approximately 35 bins on the G-pier, to further streamline and improve waste management.
At RTHA’s invitation, we took a behind-the-scenes look at their recycling efforts and shared learnings to inspire improvements at the much larger Schiphol site.
“It’s incredibly valuable to test solutions in practice at Rotterdam, which can serve as inspiration for the larger-scale operations at Schiphol. There’s so much we can learn from each other!”
– Vera Geling, R-Ladder Specialist & Customer Success Manager, Seenons
Reducing material waste
Renovation projects often result in significant material waste. Together with BAM and Heijmans, we’re exploring ways to give construction materials a second life during renovation projects at Schiphol. For example, we’re looking at reusing old materials during the renovation of sanitary facilities, aiming to minimize waste and maximize the use of resources. While this process is still evolving, it aligns perfectly with our shared vision of sustainable construction practices.
We aim to make Schiphol waste-free by 2030 and fully circular by 2050. With these initiatives, we continue to take concrete steps toward a cleaner Schiphol by reducing waste and reusing materials. Thanks to our partnerships, we’re getting closer to achieving this ambitious goal.
Ready to join us in creating a waste-free world?
