We're celebrating 15 years of the CVM (Coöperatieve Vereniging Milieu), the environmental management organization that makes what every organization does at High Tech Campus possible. We're sharing what they do, some of their history and why they're one of the most important organizations at HTCE.
From left to right: Jeroen Triepels, Anne Riesewijk, Inge Naus, Jan Wingens, Erica Rugebregt, and Jac Mazereeuw
Environmental permits are an absolute requirement for companies to do their business on the High Tech Campus, making environmental management a huge, crucial job. Luckily, HTCE has a unique and interesting approach the permitting process. Enter CVM - the Coöperatieve Vereniging Milieu (Environmental Cooperative Association)!
CVM is the environmental manager of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven; they're responsible for environmental permits and ensuring all Campus activities adhere to environmental regulations. Their organization is also rather unique. Instead of companies requesting individual environmental permits, CVM holds an “umbrella” permit from the municipality and issues partial permits to all Campus companies. This speeds up the establishment process, makes it less complex and allows organizations to start right away in a regulated, safe environment.
With this structure, CVM has been making business at HTCE safe and sustainable for 15 years. To celebrate their 15th year in operation, we asked Erica Rugebregt, Environmental Coordinator HTCE, to tell us more about their history and what they do.
In 2006, Philips, the main company on Campus, applied for an umbrella permit from the municipality of Eindhoven for the entire Campus, which was granted in 2008. Rather than manage it on their own, Philips joined forces with VDL to establish CVM in 2010, which would become the main permit holder. Thus, CVM became HTCE's environmental manager and has been issuing partial permits ever since.
Erica: “In 2010, we still issued partial permits in hard copy. I remember that sometimes our entire office was filled with folders that had to be filled with printouts. We spent hours standing at the printer. Our work has become much easier (and more organized) now that everything is done digitally.”
Erica explains that the umbrella permit organization of CVM “not only speeds up the establishment process, but also makes it considerably less complex. Because CVM centrally organizes environmental management, a wide variety of organizations—with diverse activities and risks—can often operate side by side without any problems, without restricting or slowing each other down.”
Fewer roadblocks and a smoother permitting process also means companies can do more of what they do best here - innovate! "In this way, CVM contributes to a strong business climate, accelerates innovation, and supports HTCE's ambitions as a leading knowledge and development location within Brainport Eindhoven," Erica says.
As HTCE’s environmental management, the CVM team has been responsible for conducting audits every year. They also undergo inspections themselves by municipal authorities. In their younger years, they were inspected rigorously up to three times a year: “In the early days, inspections lasted from 8:00 a.m. until often around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. Now they come less often and the inspection day ends around 3:00 p.m. They are also satisfied with how CVM has organized everything on the Campus.” 15 years of acing inspections pays off!
We wondered what motivated Erica to work on this team for 15 years: "No two days are the same at CVM. Over the years, I have worked with many different organizations, each with their own challenges. Legislation is constantly changing and there is always something happening, which means that the work is always evolving and never gets boring. I particularly enjoy my position between the organizations on the Campus and the competent authority. This allows me not only to monitor the correct implementation of legislation and regulations, but also to contribute practical ideas and advice. My starting point is: how can we make activities possible within the legal framework? I think in terms of solutions and always look for ways to ensure that practical implementation and regulations go hand in hand."
Today, CVM manages 75 partial environmental permits - these permits include all areas and activities on the Campus. And any organization can join! Campus organizations, regardless of their environmental impact, can join the CVM for free, allowing them to vote on CVM's budget, bylaws and Environmental Regulations, amongst other activities.
Erica Rugebregt works with HTCE Environmental Coordinator Jac Mazereeuw on the CVM team. They are managed by CVM board members Anne Riesewijk, CVM president, Inge Naus, CVM treasurer, Jeroen Triepels, CVM secretary, and Jan Wingens, CVM financial controller.
Congratulations to CVM for 15 years of hard work and dedication to the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. You can learn more about CVM on their landing page: https://www.hightechcampus.com/cvm.