VanWonen signs Zonvenant for sun-safe area development
News item, Healthiest Generations
VanWonen is the first area developer to sign the ‘Zonvenant’, an initiative of the Dutch Skin Fund (Nationaal Huidfonds) to combat skin cancer. With this, the company commits itself to creating sun-safe environments, including by providing shaded outdoor spaces. VanWonen is now part of a growing group of organisations that, together with the Dutch Skin Fund, aim to reduce skin cancer rates and increase awareness of sun-safe behaviour.
VanWonen’s mission is to develop homes and living environments that contribute to the health of current and future generations. Signing the Zonvenant (Sun Covenant) aligns with this goal. As an area developer, VanWonen takes its responsibility and is committed to creating shaded zones in new residential and living environments, while also prioritizing sun protection for future residents and partners. To achieve this, the company actively seeks collaborations with partners outside its own field of expertise.
Miranda Venekamp-Brandt, director of Marketing, Sales & Rental Operations at VanWonen: “The choices we make as a developer determine things like how much shade there will be in a new neighbourhood, or how much greenery will be added. To us, health is a key principle in area development. This informs specific design choices in our projects and throughout our supply chain. For example, integrating shaded meeting areas, gardens, playgrounds and roof terraces, while advocating for sun protection among our customers and collaboration partners.”
A sun-safe society
Every year, over 81,000 people in the Netherlands are diagnosed with skin cancer. This makes it the most common form of cancer in the country: 1 in 5 people in the Netherlands will develop skin cancer. A sunburn at a young age increases the risk of the deadliest form of skin cancer.
However, there are simple measures to prevent skin cancer: avoid the sun, wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen. The National Skin Fund’s Zonvenant helps organisations to address this issue. More than 630 organisations have already joined, including municipalities, public health services, schools, childcare organisations, sports and recreation clubs, employers, trade associations and medical and research institutions. VanWonen is the first area developer to have signed the Zonvenant.
Marijne Landman, director of the Dutch Skin Fund: “A well-designed living environment plays an important role in ensuring people can exercise, relax and play while being protected from the sun. In this way, we protect future generations and reduce the pressure on the healthcare system. We are pleased with this collaboration and hope it inspires more developers to prioritize skin cancer prevention.”
Read more about the Zonvenant here.
