Ranpak moves to sustainable facility in The Netherlands

Ranpak Holdings, one of the global leaders of environmentally sustainable, paper-based packaging, has partnered with a real estate developer Boelens de Gruyter to design and build a new, highly sustainable facility in Kerkrade, Limburg, The Netherlands.

Ranpak Holdings has partnered with a real estate developer Boelens de Gruyter to design and build a new, highly sustainable facility in Kerkrade, Limburg, The Netherlands

The new development will consolidate the company’s Protective Packaging and Automation businesses into one location that allows for more efficient operations with better team interaction and innovation in a highly sustainable facility. 

Additionally, the facility is built specifically with the customer in mind, driving an enhanced experience for all visitors and employees. This project consolidates three existing European facilities into one, with 350 employees and a plan for future growth. The facility will include manufacturing, engineering, warehousing, research and development and other office spaces along with a new inspiring Customer Experience Center. The building is expected to be completed by October 2022.

‘The starting point for this project was the fact that we needed 60 percent more production space and double the office space to accommodate growth,’ said Eric Laurensse, managing director of Ranpak Europe. ‘It also gives us the opportunity to integrate Ranpak Protective Packaging Solutions and Automation into one modern and inspiring facility while also making the terrain more sustainable and improving the area as a whole.

‘In addition to using sustainable energy, including solar panels on the roof and plenty of windows and skylights for natural lighting, we are also providing charging stations for electric vehicles and bicycles. We are paying close attention to landscaping, minimizing water consumption, and adding trees to the site. We have made major changes in the design phase, so that the quality of life for the neighbors will not be disrupted as a result of our operations. This is in line with our tagline: Deliver a Better World, not only for our customers, but also for our neighbors and employees.’

The building comprises 25,000 sqm of production space and logistics, 3,100 sqm of offices, and more than 500 sqm for the new Customer Experience Center. The building features a contemporary design, including an attractive finish that mimics the look of Ranpak’s paper products. It is an energy-neutral facility that features full recycling and waste management capabilities, is fully temperature-controlled and will use no fossil fuels for heating, with solar panels being the primary energy source to heat the building from the floor. The design qualifies for a ‘very good’ ranking according to BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. The placement of the building on the property and the routing of trucks have been designed to create minimal impact on the homes, businesses and recreational areas nearby. 

‘We needed more professionals and more business space to meet demand for our products, which is higher than ever due to current market conditions and trends,’ added Laurensse. ‘This facility meets both of those objectives as well as ensuring the availability of professional jobs for the community that pay well and offer a safe and healthy working environment.’