GSES System and Open House strengthen partnership at ADE

GSES System and Open House strengthen partnership at ADE

Working Together for a More Sustainable and Transparent Future in the Event Industry

Amsterdam, October 23, 2025

During the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), GSES System (Global Sustainable Enterprise System) and the Open House Foundation officially signed their strategic partnership. The collaboration focuses on making the Dutch and international events industry more sustainable by ensuring that sustainability becomes measurable, verifiable, and transparent. Open House receives a global license, enabling clear insight into the impact of events. In addition, both organizations will collaborate on sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing the negative footprint of events while enhancing their social and societal impact.

The signing at ADE marks the official continuation of the partnership first announced earlier this year during the Beyond Barrier Lines event, where the organizations presented their shared vision for a more circular and data-driven future within the creative sector.

“The event industry has enormous impact — both culturally and ecologically. Through this collaboration, we combine the power of data and community to achieve real, measurable progress,” said Kelly Ruigrok, CEO of GSES System.

“By connecting GSES’s tools with the knowledge, experience, and execution power of Open House in the Dutch and international events sector, we can set the standard for sustainable events,” added Yoël Schuller, General Manager and expert at the Open House Foundation.

The collaboration includes the development and implementation of a unified sustainability framework for festivals, venues, and cultural organizations. This framework will allow event organizers to measure and present their environmental impact, circularity, and social value through the GSES platform, which is based on globally recognized measurement methodologies.

“What starts in the Netherlands can make a difference worldwide. We aim to turn this partnership into a Dutch export product: a model where sustainability, innovation, and creativity reinforce each other,” concluded Ruigrok.

About GSES System

The Global Sustainable Enterprise System (GSES) is an internationally recognized sustainability platform that helps organizations measure and improve their performance based on global standards.
The platform offers tools for certification, supply chain transparency, and impact verification, and has experience across diverse sectors including construction, mobility, government, and large-scale events.

About the Open House Foundation

The Open House Foundation connects, accelerates, and innovates — with one goal: a strong, sustainable, and attractive sector ready for the future. Open House operates as an independent platform and connector between government, education, and business.
By bringing together knowledge, tools, and networks, the foundation delivers tangible results: more talent, less environmental impact, and a stronger international profile. Together with its partners, Open House achieves measurable impact and helps build a sector that is proud, resilient, and future-oriented.

Share this post


City of Amsterdam Sail 2025

News

City of Amsterdam Sail 2025

GSES presents during the Commissioners’ Dinner of the Municipality of Amsterdam aboard the Clipper Stad Amsterdam

During SAIL Amsterdam 2025, GSES once again contributed to the annual Commissioners’ Dinner of the municipal participations of the Municipality of Amsterdam.

The special event took place aboard the iconic Clipper Stad Amsterdam, which sails on sustainable fuel a fitting setting for an evening dedicated to sustainability, collaboration, and innovation.

GSES measures and verifies the impact of SAIL 2025

GSES measures and verifies the sustainability impact of SAIL Amsterdam 2025.

Our founder and CEO, Kelly Ruigrok, took the stage to share how GSES measures the sustainability impact of SAIL through the GSES Platform. This platform enables organizations to monitor their performance across ESG, SDG, and circularity themes, while independent auditors our Greenguards ensure objective verification of the data.

Alderman Alexander Scholtes as speaker

The event was opened by Alexander Scholtes, Alderman for Participations of the Municipality of Amsterdam. He spoke about the importance of sustainable entrepreneurship within municipal participations and the role of collaboration between public and private partners in building a future-proof city.

Continuation of earlier sustainability collaboration

For GSES, this was a special moment, as it marked the second time the platform was invited to present to the Municipality of Amsterdam and its participations.

During the first session in 2023, held at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, GSES already presented on sustainability measurement and impact management within Amsterdam’s participations a trajectory that is now being further developed.

Building sustainable connections together

Throughout the evening, board members, commissioners, entrepreneurs, and policymakers engaged in discussions about the future of sustainable innovation, collaboration, and international connectivity.

The event concluded with a walking dinner and the impressive evening show Waves of Light an experience that beautifully symbolized the connection between the city, the sea, and sustainability.

Thanks to the organizers

We would like to thank SAIL Amsterdam 2025 and the Municipality of Amsterdam, especially Alexander Scholtes, for the invitation and hospitality.

We also appreciate the inspiring contributions of:

  • Henk van Raan – SAIL
  • Tanja Dik – Managing Director Johan Cruijff ArenA
  • Elisabeth de Jong – Program Manager SAIL

GSES looks back with pride on an evening that demonstrates how collaboration between government, business, and society can contribute to a more sustainable future. 🌍💚

Share this post


AVEX gives sustainability a voice through image and sound

News

AVEX gives sustainability a voice through image and sound

This article was originally published by Duurzaamheid.nl.

In the audiovisual sector, sustainability can seem difficult to achieve: equipment consumes significant amounts of energy, has a relatively short lifespan, and clients continuously demand the latest technology. Yet AVEX, a family-owned business with nearly forty years of experience, is consciously choosing a different path.

“We don’t just want to move the AV sector forward, but also serve as an example for other industries,” says Marjolein Koens-Schaddelee. With BRIX Zero, AVEX demonstrates that you don’t have to wait for regulations those who take initiative themselves can set the standard for an entire industry.

From family business to impact company

While many players in the sector focus on short-term returns and acquisitions, AVEX deliberately chooses a long-term approach.

“We don’t just want to be relevant today or tomorrow, but also for generations to come,” says Marjolein Koens-Schaddelee. This vision stems from growing concerns about electronic waste and the belief that technology and sustainability can go hand in hand  if approached in the right way.

 

Supply chain partners as the key

For AVEX, the core lies not only in technology, but especially in collaboration with partners such as Sony, Samsung, and Logitech. The company initiated conversations with them, asking: how can we make audiovisual solutions smarter, better, and more sustainable?

Koens-Schaddelee: “We initiated the conversations, but now we challenge each other it has truly become co-creation. That brings a lot of energy.”

This open dialogue forms the foundation for developing smarter and more sustainable solutions together.

A tangible outcome of this collaboration is the development of a digital product passport. Although European regulations are still evolving, AVEX and its partners have already created their own format.

For each component, it becomes clear which materials are used, what the CO₂ footprint is, and how reuse can be enabled. All information is transparently recorded in the GSES platform and independently verified.

Koens-Schaddelee: “Through this initiative, we are now also engaging with the European Union to shape how such product passports could look. It’s surprising how much influence you can have when you bring the right people together.”

This shows that supply chain collaboration not only delivers results, but can also open doors you never expected.

“It’s surprising how much influence you can have when you bring the right people together.”
— Marjolein Koens-Schaddelee, Managing Director AVEX

 

Transparency and measurability

Since its launch in May 2025, responses have been positive.

“Customers say: we’ve never seen this before,” says Koens-Schaddelee. At the same time, she notices that many organizations struggle with their responsibility, especially when it comes to Scope 3 emissions.

BRIX Zero offers a concrete solution: measurable data on energy consumption, material flows, and CO₂ impact. The company’s own production facility runs entirely on solar energy; the remainder is offset.

A win-win across the value chain

Results are only achieved when all parties in the value chain benefit.

“Sustainability shouldn’t just feel good it must also be a solid business case,” emphasizes Koens-Schaddelee.

By showing partners that circular solutions deliver both impact and financial returns, collective motivation continues to grow.

 

Lessons for other sectors

With BRIX Zero, AVEX demonstrates that even in an energy-intensive and rapidly evolving industry, circular and carbon-neutral solutions are achievable.

This approach can also inspire other sectors, such as the furniture industry, with which AVEX is already in discussion.

The key lesson: bring the right partners on board at the right level and innovate together. This requires co-creation, alignment across all layers of organizations, and a shared ambition to make a real impact.

 

Looking ahead

The ambition is to further scale BRIX Zero and place sustainability and transparency at the core of every concept.

“Only by working together across the value chain can we truly make a difference. That’s how we ensure we remain relevant not just today, but for future generations,” concludes Koens-Schaddelee.

Share this post