Circularity and Social Return come together at ABN AMRO

Circularity is all about preserving value. Not just the value of materials, but also the social value you can create within a project. At ABN AMRO in Amsterdam, those two ambitions come together in our partnership with Caparis.

The project involves processing and assembling large numbers of existing and new interior components. We carried out part of this work in collaboration with Caparis, with about ten employees working on various components for the ABN AMRO head office interior in Amsterdam.

Large-scale reuse

A key part of the work involves repurposing existing materials. For example, 335 scrum wall panels were reused. At Caparis, these were carefully cleaned and fitted with new insulation.

In addition, the team assembled 303 partitions: acoustic screens placed between desks that consist of multiple parts. A total of 1,590 diffuser walls were also assembled. These room dividers consist of frames with grids and, depending on the version, acoustic panels. Some of these were reused, with existing damage repaired where possible.

Beyond assembly, another 1,098 acoustic panels, tension fabrics, and frames were sorted and prepared for transport to the various floors of the ABN AMRO head office. All components were carefully packed, labeled, and readied for the next stage of the project.

These are large numbers, but behind every component is human effort.

"About ten of us worked on hundreds of parts," says Robin, an employee at Caparis. "Everyone had their own task, but we had to get it done together. We paid close attention to quality and wanted to deliver neat work."

More than just reuse

That is precisely where Zwartwoud sees the strength of the partnership with Caparis. Circularity isn't just about preventing usable materials from being thrown away. By organizing work this way, we can simultaneously fulfill Social Return goals and create social value.

We find the collaboration with Caparis to be very positive. The supervision is engaged, and they actively contribute ideas and solutions. If a component is damaged or something is unclear, it is flagged immediately and resolved together.

Just as important is the space employees are given to work according to their own strengths. While one person may prefer to work independently and focused on a component, another may seek out contact and collaboration.

"So much is thrown away these days. It’s great that we can help ensure materials are reused. That gives me a good feeling," says Robin.

When all the individual parts finally come together in the completed interior, the impact of all that work becomes visible.

"When you see the end result, I’m quite proud. At first, all the parts arrive separately, and in the end, it becomes something beautiful. We worked together on furniture for a large ABN AMRO office. That’s pretty special when you see photos of it later."

For us, this collaboration demonstrates that sustainable development can go beyond just the use of materials. By bringing circularity and Social Return together within the same project, we preserve existing value while creating new value.

For clarification: This interview with the Caparis employees took place in July 2026. Since then, the project has progressed further, and multiple floors of the new ABN AMRO headquarters at Foppingadreef are now being delivered in phases. The project photography in this article dates from 2024 and was taken at an aesthetically similar project.