KOORNSTRA LETTING SUSTAINABILITY COME TO FULL BLOOM

BLOGPOST, Wed 27 October 2010 13:57, Joyce Stewart

We just had twenty Dutch entrepreneurs over at Search. We invited mister Ruud Koornstra to talk about being sustainable. All we had to do, was sit back, relax and listen to his exciting stories. This man is a genious! He has Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Vladimir Putin en the Dalai Lama promoting his LED lights.

Ruud Koornstra is founder of Tendris Holding. Earlier this year he received the prestigious Big Improvement Day (BID) award. He is the man and mind behind the most popular LED lights, the Visa GreenCard and the promotion of electric cars in Holland. With a smile on our faces we let the inspiration soak in.

"It's all about thinking, rethinking and redesigning", says Koornstra. "Make sure everbody and everything comes to bloom. And please: be real. Shell claiming to be sustainable, is not going to sell!"

Koornstra goes on: "We started making LED lights with three enthusiastic people in a small garage. The major breakthrough came when the National Postcode Lottery introduced 2,5 million LED lights to the Dutch. Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Vladimir Putin en the Dalai Lama are all interested. And you know what the sustainable thing is? When there is a better option than LED, I will just as easy let LED go."

Koornstra is fond of electric cars. "People say it is not possible, but I drive one. Believe me: my car is fast! When I run low on electricity I stop and ask people if I can charge it. It costs nothing so they never refuse."

"I remember the opening of a big Dutch event", Koornstra laughs. "I have to see the first prime minister that promotes electric driving, the host said. At that exact moment I drove in with the former prime minster Jan-Peter Balkenende on my side."

The exciting stories of Koornstra go on and on. He creates a sustainable future. Are you in?

Joyce Stewart