An interview with our new company member, Milgro.  Director Laurens Groen, a passionate entrepreneur with the vision “doing more good” in stead of “doing less bad” was delighted to tell us more about the company, activities and mission and vision. Read below the highlights of the interview!

 

Milgro

Milgro is the one and only independent outsourcing company for the management of waste and used raw materials in the supply chain. Employing 65 people with a passion for its mission, Milgro works for a fast growing number of mid-sized companies, corporates and multinationals. From a data driven approach, Milgro ensures that waste is reduced, reuse is stimulated and recycling is optimized. In a circular approach, their aim is to reuse resources with the highest possible value, so waste can be used as a resource for a(n) (other) production chain. According to Laurens Groen, the only way to manage waste and materials is to obtain valuable data. For that purpose, Milgro deploys a unique and self-built digital management system for its customers. “Waste and resource data should be handled as financial data; you need to obtain information before you can manage, improve and innovate”.

Milgro as Clean Tech Delta member

Milgro is now operating for over 24 years, based in Rotterdam, and has always felt a strong connection with the city. Furthermore, as Milgro is a clean tech company, the connection with Clean Tech Delta was a logical one. Milgro is connected to many other parties in Rotterdam, such as InnovationQuarter. Together with Clean Tech Delta, Milgro will be able to further develop its connection with the Rotterdam business climate. To the question “what does Milgro aim to achieve with Clean Tech Delta”, Laurens answered: “We want to show what the business opportunities for waste and raw materials management are and work together with other members towards a more circular economy. We contribute by demonstrating that ‘earth’ (or planet) and ‘earn’ (profit) can be combined in an effective and sustainable way”.

Vision

Laurens explains that nowadays our society and business models evolve around depleting resources. With their digital tools and proven solutions, Milgro facilitates companies towards a more efficient and sustainable use of our resources. By calculating the Return on Resources (RoR), again a financial term, they can indicate what waste and materials are actually worth. Nevertheless, you can not transform a society on a very short term, according to Laurens. This is why, with the strength and the success of their tools, they will stimulate and inspire entrepreneurs. From this perspective, Laurens mentioned that the government should primarily leave the transition to a circular economy to entrepreneurs, but they can create space for new business models. With specific incentives, for example in taxation, the transition can then be stimulated.