Renovations
To achieve this goal, the following work will be carried out in the short or long term (depending on what is possible):
- Additional insulation of our roofs
- Renovation of the air conditioning units
- Replacement of solar panels and installation of additional panels
- Replacement of all lighting with LED
- Installation of heat pumps
- Installation of a fermentation plant for processing kitchen waste into biogas
- …
Water consumption and drainage
In the most recently added part of the building, the toilets are already partly flushed with rainwater. Ultimately, we want to fit all toilets with this system.
We also constantly monitor our water consumption in order to waste as little tap water as possible. What’s more, the main roof drains into the boggy ground next to the Science Garden, which acts as a natural buffer.
Nature management and environment
Hof Grisar and Zennebeemden, the two areas on which Technopolis holds a ground lease, are maintained jointly with the City of Mechelen, the Agency for Nature and Forest and Natuurpunt, and are open as a park/nature reserve. Together with Nectarist, we’re also combating bee mortality. There is a beehive in the Technopolis car park that is maintained by Nectarist. In addition, in collaboration with the City of Mechelen, visitors are encouraged to come from Mechelen station by public transport or bicycle (shared or private).
Operational
A lot of attention is paid to sustainability at all operational levels. For example, office staff are only provided with FSC paper, and sustainability is a factor that is taken into account as much as possible when requesting quotes and tenders.
Catering
The use of disposable plastic is kept to a minimum, both in the restaurant and during events. In addition, preference is given to fair trade and local products and suppliers. There’s always a choice of one or more
vegetarian and vegan options, and many dishes are prepared at Technopolis itself.
Food waste is avoided where possible by using the skins or peel of onions, garlic, carrots and tomatoes in stocks and broths. All pumpkin and melon seeds, broccoli and cauliflower leaves and chicken and fish bones are collected centrally and processed into biodiesel.
Shop
Only paper bags are provided in the shop, and the use of reusable bags is encouraged.
Events
For events, not only do we attach great importance to sustainable catering, but sustainability is an important criterion in our choice of audiovisual equipment and other supplies.
Generating support
Initiating sustainable actions is great, but what Technopolis really excels at is inspiring others.
Among the general public
Through our offering, we encourage social support for sustainability in a very wide audience of children, young people and adults.
- Sustainable energy supply is a consistent theme in our immersive digital zone Sea Force. The theme also regularly crops up in other zones. In AI! for example, visitors discover as they cycle how much energy a search in ChatGPT uses.
- In recent years, the theme has regularly come to the fore in temporary exhibitions such as Insectopia (about the role of insects within the ecosystem) and Science & Stones (about sustainable construction).
- The theme is never far away in videos, workshops, supplementary educational material, shows and so on.
Among all employees
You can only achieve important goals by constantly making all employees aware of their importance. We offer a bicycle allowance to encourage employees to cycle to work.