Van Marcke, distributor of sanitaryware and heating, is investing 70 million euros in a new sustainable distribution centre in Kortrijk, Belgium. In the new DC, the Belgian market leader aims to handle 80 per cent of orders automatically.
The building will rise around March 2018 on a 17-hectare site and will have a size of 90,000 square metres. The distribution centre EDC(Excellent Distribution to Customers) will replace Van Marcke's current distribution centre in Kortrijk. From here, the company will supply France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
“The EDC enables us to refine both our services and our social commitment,” said Caroline van Marcke, CEO of the company of the same name, in a press release. The CEO is referring to the sustainability measures being implemented on the building, which are set to result in a BREEAM certificate. For example, the distribution centre is being built to be water- and CO₂-neutral. Van Marcke is installing 16,000 square metres of solar panels on the building’s roof. These will generate 2 megawatts peak, enough to supply 500 households with electricity. The project aims to reduce packaging waste and minimise the number of lorry-kilometres.
"The world is changing economically, geopolitically and ecologically. In that context, we provide quality of life. On the one hand, we remain ambitious in the development of products and services, aiming for growth in new markets and product segments. On the other hand, we care for the environment and for our employees," Van Marcke continues.
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