Green Faces: Green Roof Coach

Welcome to Green Faces, our inspiring portrait series in which we shine a spotlight on our customers. In every episode, we dive into the lives and careers of the companies that are not only making our surroundings greener but also shaping our future. This series explores how passion, innovation and green thinking come together to truly make the world a better place. From architects and designers to landscapers and green roof specialists, Green Faces highlights the diverse backgrounds and unique insights of each of these professionals.

Meet the faces behind the companies and get inspired. Discover how easy and meaningful it can be to make a green difference for our beautiful planet. In this first edition, we speak with Marc Rotmans, founder and CEO of Groendakcoach.

[Marc Rotmans on a newly installed green roof.]

“Creating a better living environment for people, animals and nature—that is my passion and the ‘why’ behind everything I do.”

Marc’s journey to green roofs wasn’t a straight path upwards. Starting out in environmental soil remediation, he eventually moved through the world of complex roof leakages to roof greening. With the technology he used, he could trace leaks to within one metre of accuracy, which led him to some of the most remarkable roofs. His fascination for technology and precision in leak detection eventually brought him to the Roof Update foundation, from which he entered into close collaboration with Sempergreen.

In the world of sustainable development, Marc plays an important role with Groendakcoach (Green Roof Coach). As a strong advocate for green roofs, he combines his expertise in leakage prevention with his passion for ecology. Marc is eager to share his vision of the journey towards greener roofs—both in new builds and renovations—and his ideas for how we can all do better for the planet so that future generations can continue to enjoy its beauty.

Coaching towards green

Why he calls himself a Green Roof Coach becomes clear right away: Marc wants to be more than just a supplier of products. The products are tools in the toolbox that Marc carries with him everywhere. He makes the world greener, and Sempergreen’s products help him do it. But beyond supplying and installing these products, he also advises on how to optimise and future-proof our living environment. Groendakcoach provides advice on combination roofs, such as those where water retention is important or roofs that combine greenery with solar energy. Marc thinks along with the client and helps select the solution that best fits their needs. The title ‘coach’ couldn’t be more fitting.

Every project has its own story

“Every project has its own story,” Marc says enthusiastically. “But one of the more recent projects that will always stay with me is the major renovation project in De Bilt. What started as a leakage problem ended up becoming a green oasis. This project perfectly illustrates how technical challenges can lead to sustainable innovations.”

Renovation project in Dutch town ’De Bilt’ with various types of vegetation.

Another project where Groendakcoach and Sempergreen joined forces was the bus shelter project. This initiative involved installing green roofs on 50% of all bus shelters in the municipality of Apeldoorn. Groendakcoach and Sempergreen collaborated to equip these shelters with beautiful Sedum roofs. It may seem small—such a tiny roof on a shelter—but amidst all the buildings, these little roofs become green oases: a place for insects to rest, a spot that brings a touch of cooling, and a surface that helps absorb CO₂. Fortunately, more and more municipalities in the Netherlands are deciding to create these types of micro-oases.

Read more here about greening bus shelters in various municipalities.

One of the green roofs on the bus shelters in Apeldoorn, with Alderman Danny Huizer (photo credits second image: Global).

Making a real impact with green roofs

“All projects have their own charm, but what makes them truly special is the impact,” Marc explains. “Green roofs are not only beautiful to look at; they genuinely change the atmosphere in a city.” 

When asked about people’s reactions to his work, Marc’s face lights up. “People really get excited about green roofs. They feel the cooling effect during hot days and instantly see the benefits. Recently, I received a photo from a customer showing three bees on her rooftop terrace. It’s wonderful to see how life becomes so visibly enriched!” 

We completely agree with Marc. At Sempergreen, we too see the enormous impact that green roofs and walls can have. Many benefits are already well-known, but the effect on building users—whether residents, employees or patients and their reactions are tangible proof of the positive impact of greenery.

Good, better, best

Looking to the future, we asked Marc why the partnership with Sempergreen is so important to him. “The quality of your Sedum is very important to us. Also, the fact that you play a kind of coaching role towards your partners is decisive for me—I’ve learned so much from Sempergreen.”

When asked what we could do better, Marc had a clear answer: put even more focus on sustainability. Beyond the demand for Sedum roofs, he sees increasing interest in greater biodiversity, more native species and sustainable lightweight solutions. Fortunately, we offer Biodiversity blankets in Bees & Butterflies and Sedum-Herb varieties (providing even more habitat for insects than Sedum alone), and together with the Dutch Butterfly Foundation we’ve developed wonderful Biodiversity Packages to enhance Sempergreen’s core products and make them even more attractive to insects. Even when a building already has a green roof, these packages can be added as an upgrade.

In the world of green roofs and living walls, everything is evolving. Ever more sustainable solutions are becoming available, and increasingly relevant research is being carried out into the effects of greenery in urban areas. With all our partners, colleagues and industry peers, we are making great progress. That’s why Sempergreen has made sustainability part of its strategy, with a mission to restore the balance between people and plants. We see it as our duty to care for the planet and, together with our partners, to make the path to sustainability easier and stronger—so that in the future, sustainability will no longer be a choice, but a habit.

Coaching towards the future

Besides the coaching role Marc plays in the world of green roofs, he is also a coach for future generations. Together with children, he greens schoolyards with rooftop gardens, vegetable plots or newly planted trees. He and his colleagues give guest lessons, and Marc teaches children how to create their own mini green roofs.

“By now it’s clear: we must take greater care of our climate, our nature and our future generations.”

To introduce children to climate awareness in a playful way, Marc founded the Duzadorp Foundation. This foundation brings our future to life for children in a cheerful, accessible way—raising awareness of climate challenges and what they can do to make a difference. The focus is on making climate-conscious actions easy and turning them into habits for the children.

With this foundation, Marc hopes to inspire others to take responsibility for the world together. Want to learn more about the foundation? Read all about Duzadorp and its special inhabitants here (in Dutch). Among these inhabitants you’ll also meet Semmy Sedum, a cheerful character who loves rooftops, insects and colourful friends. Needless to say, we’re big fans of this green friend!

A green mission

When asked about his ambitions, Marc is clear: “My ultimate goal is to green as many roofs as possible. Not only for their beauty, but above all for the ecological and social benefits they bring. Working with Sempergreen has enabled us to operate nationwide and maximise our impact.”

We are, of course, delighted to hear that. It also underlines who we want to be in the world of building greening: a partner to learn and grow with. Replanting the Planet, together. Because every step we take forward together is a step toward a more sustainable world.

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