With a huge stock and fast delivery, both individuals and companies know how to find Luijtgaarden. “We have some 30,000 square metres of stock, of which 80% consists of used roof tiles,” explains finance director Peter van Loon. “We invest heavily in circularity and actively drive that.” This focus on reuse is not an empty promise, but is deeply embedded in the company's way of working. Upon arrival, all roof tiles are checked piece by piece. “We have strict quality control. Roof tiles that do not pass the quality control are used for applications such as flood defences and gabions. What remains after that goes to a waste processor in Germany. There, the roof tiles are ground into gravel (the red variety), While other colours are reused in infrastructure.” Peter explains. “Anything that is good will just get another place on the roof.”
Precursor
According to Peter, Luijtgaarden is leading the way in this. “We really are a forerunner. Every day, some 50 employees keep the company running. The Finance department keeps a sharp eye on the entire financial process, from reports to taking people along with changes. The great thing is that I am involved from A to Z.” In practice, that means a tightly organised process. “Suppose in a neighbourhood the roof tiles have to be replaced. We first check what type of roof tiles are there. Then we ask for them to be carefully removed and placed in our trade-in racks. We collect these. Then the old roof tiles are either exchanged for new ones, or sorted and checked, after which they are supplemented - where necessary - with used roof tiles from our stock.” When the roof tiles arrive in Standdaarbuiten, quality control follows, with each tile being assessed individually. “Did you know that almost every region has its own type of roof tile? Since working here, I look at roofs very differently myself,” Peter says with a laugh.
Personal contact
Besides sustainability and logistics, cooperation and personal contact play a major role at the company. For instance, Luijtgaarden has been working with Xolv for a long time. Peter: “Their approach and way of communicating suits us well. Personal contact is important and they really think along with us. And if something comes up, it is always dealt with quickly. Our customers pay in advance or we work with credit limits. That sometimes takes some getting used to for new customers, but it works well.”
Staying sustainable
Meanwhile, the focus remains on the future. “The challenge is to maintain this level while continuing to meet the growing demand for used roof tiles,” says Peter. “Circularity fortunately remains high on the agenda, so we remain committed to that.” In this way, Luijtgaarden continues to build a sustainable future, in which roof tiles are not just waste, but valuable materials that can be reused again and again.
More info on Luijtgaarden? www.luijtgaarden.nl