Koppert Cress publishes second edition of sustainability magazine “Cress Compass”, Growing together in trust, innovation and impact
Category: Sustainability
Koppert Cress and its innovation division, Division Q, are delighted to present the second edition of their sustainability magazine, “Cress Compass”.
Cress Compass
‘Trust is the soil in which everything grows.’
With these words, director Stijn Baan opens the second edition of Cress Compass – the sustainability magazine in which Koppert Cress shows how the company is building a regenerative future, step by step.
Following the success of the first edition, Cress Compass 2024–2025 not only looks back, but above all looks ahead. It is an invitation to look at growth differently, to focus on collaboration and to continue investing in meaningful innovation.
At Koppert Cress, growth is not about more, but about better – better for people, better for the planet, better for the next generation.
Growing healthily
In the Westland – the beating heart of Dutch horticulture – Koppert Cress works with countless partners to create a sustainable food chain.
‘We are part of a larger ecosystem,’ says Stijn Baan. ‘Whether it's heat, water or knowledge, the future lies in collaboration.’
A tangible example of this is the Polanen geothermal energy project. Just two kilometres from the main location in Monster, a 2.5-kilometre-deep borehole is being drilled into the earth to extract sustainable heat. This heat will soon supply dozens of greenhouse horticulture companies with energy.
For Koppert Cress, this means turning off the gas tap for good in 2026 and growing crops completely fossil-free.
‘That's the beauty of this project,’ says Stijn. ‘It shows what is possible when you dare to share and build something bigger together. Not just for your own company, but for the entire sector.’
Innovating, with respect for nature
Innovation with an eye to the future is also taking place on other fronts. From smarter water use and circular packaging to the use of CO₂ from the outside air via the innovative Skytree DAC technology – every initiative contributes to less impact and more value.
Division Q, Koppert Cress's technical innovation division, plays a key role in this. ‘We use our greenhouse as a testing ground for sustainable technology,’ says Bart van Meurs. ‘Here we experiment with solutions that can also be applied elsewhere. We share what we learn.’
We also work regeneratively outside the greenhouse.
Together with partners such as Erwin Westers, we are investigating how agriculture can nourish the soil instead of depleting it. His regenerative farm stores more than 13 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare annually – an inspiring example of how cooperation strengthens the natural cycle.
Sustainability, starts with people
Sustainable growth is only possible in an environment where people feel safe, healthy and valued.
That is why the social side of sustainability is once again an important theme in the new Cress Compass.
At Koppert Cress, people from all over the world work together – each with their own story, language and talent. The organisation invests in language training, vitality programmes and personal development, so that everyone has the opportunity to grow.
Stories, that sow change
The Cress Compass shows how sustainability is interwoven with Koppert Cress's identity – not as an obligation, but as a conviction.
The stories are about technology, innovation and people: from regenerative farmers and young talents to researchers and chefs. Together, they contribute to our mission to show that healthy food can change the world.
‘We are storytellers,’ says Stijn. ‘If we can inspire people to look at food differently, we can bring about change. Not only in the greenhouse, but also on the plate.’
The way, forward
With the new Cress Compass, Koppert Cress shows what the company stands for: ambition, collaboration and care for people and the environment.
The magazine provides an honest picture of an organisation that continues to innovate while retaining its core values: thinking, daring, doing good and taking action.
Download and read the full Cress Compass 2024–2025 and discover the stories behind our sustainability ambitions.
Request the sustainability magazine ‘Cress Compass’ here
About Koppert Cress, And Division Q
Sustainability has always been a high priority at Koppert Cress. That is why the company has set a number of ambitious sustainability goals. For example, it aims to stop using fossil fuels and only discharge clean water by 2026. In other words, completely emission-free cultivation. Division Q was established to carry out all sustainability projects at Koppert Cress. The company tests and validates sustainable technical innovations in practice. But it doesn't stop there. Division Q will also be actively sharing these techniques and experiences in order to make an impact across the sector – Division Q
This magazine was created in collaboration with all our wonderful partners and The Agency for a Healthy World | Schuttelaar & Partners.
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