Circulair painting at the airport: From flax to sustainably-sourced paint

How do you make good use of a fallow patch of land near Schiphol? By growing bird-repellent flax. Flax that can be used to make sustainably-sourced paint. Paint that we can use for our new P3 covered car park, for example, and painting projects in the landing area.

Completing the circle through local cooperation

The Flax to Sustainably-Sourced Paint initiative is a great example of an innovative application of crops in cooperation with local parties. The flax is grown around Schiphol. Mills in Noord-Holland press the flax into flaxseed oil. Next, the Rigo paint factory in IJmuiden uses the flaxseed oil to make sustainably-sourced Aquamarijn brand paint. We then use the paint at our airport. This is how we complete the circle.

There are numerous advantages to the paint and the process.

• The flax reduces the number of birds in the vicinity of the airport. This increases flight safety.
• The paint is made from natural raw materials sourced from the region and used at Schiphol.
• The local cooperation ensures short lines in the chain.

Unusual partners

The circular economy also runs on partnerships within and outside one's own chain. Going outside of the box often means that new and in some cases unusual partners find each other in circular business practices. Partners in this particular initiative are: Waternet, municipality of Amsterdam, Rigo paint factory and Schiphol.