Family business Dijkshoorn Bleiswijk has developed a method to make 'bio-based' building materials from plant residues. The investment in the necessary machinery provided tax benefits under the MIA-Vamil scheme. The company arranged the application itself online with RVO.
Dijkshoorn Bleiswijk is active in agriculture, horticulture, and recycling. "We know the game," says director Matthijs Dijkshoorn when it comes to recycling. His company has been doing this for 25 years, always with the aim of extracting as much value as possible from agricultural and horticultural waste streams. Not composting, but reprocessing plant residues like pepper chips into a raw material for building materials.
Own production method
To make natural building materials (bio-based), Dijkshoorn Bleiswijk has developed its own production method. "We first squeeze out the juice," says Dijkshoorn. "From that juice, we make plant fertilizer. Then a dry, fiber-rich substance remains. We make sheet material from that, for example, for shuttering foundations."
Investing with tax advantage
For this innovation, the company had a sieve developed. This machine separates the sap from the fibers. Dijkshoorn Bleiswijk also invested in a unit to remove pollutants. For both sustainable investments, the company made use of the Environmental Investment Allowance (MIA) and Random Depreciation of Environmental Investments (Vamil). "It provided tax benefits," says Dijkshoorn. "We could deduct a percentage of the investment amount from our operating profit."
Easily arrange MIA/Vamil
Dijkshoorn came across the MIA-Vamil scheme himself. "I read a lot on the internet and regularly speak to other entrepreneurs. That's how I stay informed." He arranged the application himself online. "RVO's website works well. Whether you can get tax benefits? You quickly see whether your investment is on the Environmental List."
Energy Investment Allowance just as low-threshold
According to Dijkshoorn, the Energy Investment Allowance (EIA) is just as low-threshold. His company applied for it for 6,000 rooftop solar panels. "I support the premise of these tax schemes. They support sustainable, profitable businesses. If you become sustainable, you are allowed to deduct a percentage of the investment amount from your profits. For instance, in the near future, I want to enable investment in a battery pack. Spend money on a battery pack? Then please with tax benefits."
Source: RVO