Sophie Kuijpers, product developer

‘I work as a Product Developer for Sustainable Renovation and as a Project Manager at BAM Wonen. We make existing rental homes owned by housing associations and real estate investors more comfortable and energy efficient. My work takes place both at the drawing board and on the construction site. I translate our sustainability strategy into choices that are feasible for our execution teams and add value for our clients and their tenants. For us, sustainability and execution are not separate worlds. I bridge the gap from vision to practice, helping to create a future-proof living environment. 

The common thread in my work is CO₂ impact. Together with colleagues, I developed a practical tool that compares the CO₂ emissions of each renovation measure with an alternative that offers lower emissions. This makes choices transparent, speeds up decision-making, and ensures that low-impact materials become the norm rather than the exception. I find it a great development that, together with our clients, we are increasingly opting for materials with lower CO₂ emissions. 

In addition, I work—both internally and externally—on implementing more circular and biobased solutions. I guide the supply chain, together with our subcontractors and their suppliers, towards high-quality reuse and the application of natural materials. A good example is the prefab roof element insulated with certified straw: locally produced, healthy, and demonstrably lower in CO₂ impact. Innovations like these show that biobased renovation is already possible today, provided you work together across the entire supply chain. 

For me, working at BAM means contributing every day to the major challenges facing the Dutch construction sector: reducing CO₂ emissions, accelerating the energy transition, and enhancing a future-proof living environment. In my role, I can make a real impact—from gas-free renovation projects to the use of circular and biobased materials that help address these challenges. The fact that we make homes not only more energy efficient but also healthier and more future-proof for residents makes me proud to work at BAM.’