INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY At the forefront of Janssen de Jong Caribbean’s recent innovations is a new asphalt plant in Bonaire that represents a significant leap forward in environmental responsibility and operational efficiency. “The new asphalt plant ensures we can produce our asphalt more efficiently, more quickly, and with less use of fossil fuels,”Zwiers explains.The facility’s capabilities extend beyond mere production efficiency, incorporating forward-thinking features that position the company at the cutting edge of sustainable construction practices in the region. One of the plant’s most innovative aspects is its recycling capability, a first for the Dutch Caribbean. “When we do a project, we mill, we break up an old road and then we can reuse those materials. We can break them, we can crush them, and we can use them back in our asphalt mixes,” Zwiers details. This circular approach to construction materials, while common in Europe, is a significant advancement for the Caribbean region. The plant’s design also anticipates future energy transitions.“It has the ability for us to connect to gas, so we can work with natural gas instead of diesel fuel,” Zwiers notes. While natural gas infrastructure isn’t currently available on the island, this forwardthinking feature shows the company’s focus on longterm sustainability. “The option is already there. It’s on the plant, it’s already there. So maybe in a few years when natural gas becomes available here on the island, we are already prepared for that.” MEETING REGIONAL CHALLENGES In Bonaire’s unique island environment, construction companies face distinct challenges that require innovative solutions and adaptive strategies. For Janssen de Jong Caribbean, these challenges center around two critical areas: maintaining a skilled workforce on a small island and meeting evolving sustainability expectations. “Sustainability is becoming a key priority,” Zwiers explains. “People find it very important nowadays. How do you treat the environment? They make it part of the project or they give importance to how a contractor deals with the environment, good care of the environment, but also its people, its workforce.” The challenge of finding and retaining skilled labor proves particularly complex on an island with just 25,000 inhabitants. “Bonaire is such a small island. The local trade schools teach more general studies. They cannot do such specific studies because simply put, there are not enough students,” Zwiers notes. This limitation creates a continuous cycle of talent 18 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 12, ISSUE 01
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