On Thursday 7 November, Business Centre Treeport (BCT) in Zundert was awarded the prestigious title Greenest Business Park in the Netherlands 2024. The announcement was made during the Day of Economic Affairs (Dag van Economische Zaken), organised by the Stichting CLOK. The event brought together professionals for inspiring knowledge sessions, networking discussions, and this special election.

BCT’s Impact won over the jury
BCT was nominated along with Business & Science Park Wageningen and the Kempisch Bedrijvenpark in Bladel. During this day, they shared valuable insights on the sustainability of business parks. Ultimately, BCT was awarded the title. Located on the border of the Netherlands and Belgium, BCT has positioned itself as a pioneer in sustainability, with a particular focus on the future of the tree nursery industry. Its green design, biodiversity measures, and sustainable energy provisions convinced the jury of its undeniable impact.

Innovative and sustainable hub
Located in Zundert, the heart of the tree nursery region, BCT is not just a business park, but a sustainable innovation hub with the tree nursery industry at its core. Founded on the Coöperatieve Vereniging Treeport – an association of tree growers and industry partners – BCT is a centre for the industry, by the industry, and for the future.

Spanning 62 hectares, with 12 hectares specifically reserved for green spaces, BCT demonstrates how business parks can actively influence biodiversity, liveability, and energy production while contributing to a sustainable future. The site features ecological connection zones, a seed garden, a forest, and a park-like wadi (storm water basin) covering two hectares that captures water, supports flora and fauna, and provides space for recreation. The sustainable energy supply consists of 25 hectares of rooftop solar panels and water systems, along with three wind turbines, generating a total of 43 megawatts per year.

International impact in sustainability
With part of the site located in Belgium, BCT has not only a national but also an international impact. The Belgian part of the site will serve as an Energy Hub, where alternative fuels such as hydrogen and bio-LNG are developed. These sustainable initiatives contribute to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions and stimulate the transition to sustainable mobility for companies engaged in export activities.

ROOTZ: innovation and education at the heart of BCT
At the heart of Business Centre Treeport lies ROOTZ, the knowledge and innovation centre that plays a key role in the sustainability of the tree nursery sector. ROOTZ stands for Ruimte voor Onderzoek en Ontmoeting met Treeport Zundert (Space for Research and Encounter with Treeport Zundert). This circular, biobased centre provides space for companies and educational institutions such as AERES, AVANS, and HAS Green Academy. At ROOTZ, innovative solutions to challenges such as water management and biobased construction are developed, tested, and shared.

BCT: a model for sustainable business
The title Greenest Business Park in the Netherlands 2024 confirms that Business Centre Treeport sets an important standard when it comes to the sustainability of business parks. With a wide range of sustainable initiatives in biodiversity, energy efficiency, and industry-specific entrepreneurship, BCT serves as an example for other business parks in the Netherlands and beyond.

For more information about Business Centre Treeport and its sustainable initiatives, visit www.bct-zundert.eu and www.bct-rootz.eu.