SKOR wins outdoor sports equipment tender for the city of Amsterdam

ARTICLE

Jeroen Poldermans, Thursday 28 December 2023

136 sec

Circularity and reuse decisive in procurement process

The city of Amsterdam is the first municipality to issue a tender to find a partner for supplying all outdoor sports equipment over the next four years. SKOR, a manufacturer of outdoor sports equipment from Almelo, has won this unique tender.

Rebound goal

Amsterdam aims for a closed-loop system

Jeffrey Jonkman, director of SKOR: "In Amsterdam, topics such as sustainability, circularity, and CO₂ reduction are very much alive, as the city aims for a closed loop for residual waste. Using materials and resources more efficiently is the guiding principle. This requires that materials be recyclable into new products that can be reused within the city boundaries. That meant our proposal went far beyond just quoting prices or estimating material replacements. We had to demonstrate the sustainability of our raw materials and business operations—such as how much CO₂ our company emits. These aspects earned us points."

"Thanks to our circular business philosophy and our new Rebound product line, we were awarded the contract."

Action plan

"We created a plan based on sustainability and circularity—principles already embedded in our operations at SKOR. The plan outlined our production processes, the raw materials used in our end products, and the sustainability characteristics of those materials. We also included our energy-saving measures in the proposal, such as our use of solar panels and preference for electric transport. These measures qualified us for a discount on our submitted offer. The company with the best plan and the most attractive proposal would win—and that was us," says a proud Jonkman.

"For products that are damaged or defective, we always look for the solution with the lowest CO₂ impact."

Rebound goal with wheels

Rebound goal, corner detail

Main goal: no waste stream

Jonkman continues: "When developing products, we carefully select the materials we use. We also consider what happens to the product at the end of its life—it should not become part of a waste stream. If we encounter (or receive) damaged or defective products, we always look for the solution that has the lowest CO₂ footprint. Old and decommissioned aluminum is collected, melted down, and reused as raw material for new aluminum. Our new aluminum profiles consist of 85% recycled material and 15% new to ensure product stability. Super sustainable!"

From senior goal to junior goal

Rebound product line: from old to new goal

Rebound is the brand name for SKOR's refurbished sports equipment. One example is the transformation of an old senior goal into a movable Rebound goal or junior goal. Jonkman: "We value every end product and give it new life through our Rebound product line by reusing as many materials as possible. A mobile goal that is beyond repair but still contains usable parts—like wheels and fixtures—is disassembled, and the functional components are reused for our Rebound products. Our new Rebound range played an important role in winning the tender as part of the R-ladder framework."

7R ladder

Rethink: reconsider processes and approaches to adopt sustainable and circular practices.

Refuse: reduce unnecessary use and avoid products harmful to the environment.

Reduce: minimize usage, waste, and unnecessary consumption.

Reuse: encourage reuse of products and materials.

Repair: promote repair to extend product lifespan and reduce waste.

Recycle: recycle materials and products for reuse in new products or processes.

Recover: extract materials or energy from waste that cannot be recycled, using advanced methods such as energy recovery.

"We value every end product and give it new life through our Rebound product line by reusing as many materials as possible."

SKOR: sustainable products for lasting partnerships

Since 2001, Almelo-based SKOR has been facilitating and producing outdoor sports materials throughout Europe. Innovation is one of the company's driving forces, reflected in its extensive product range. Sustainability is a core principle in its business operations. The company's 600 solar panels provide its entire energy needs. In product development, little to no end-of-life waste streams are created. Top-tier sports have also taken notice of SKOR: the company's equipment is used by clubs such as Ajax, PSV, Anderlecht, Club Brugge, and even during the Tokyo Olympic Games. All premier field hockey clubs in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany also use SKOR goals.

SKOR hockey dugout

This article was originally published on December 28, 2023, on the website of Fieldmanager.

SKOR

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