Dedicated to environment

Rombout Van Riemskijk of Eden Enterprises is passionate about replacing plastic with biodegradable alternatives. Now, at the age of 77, after careers in agriculture and mechanical engineering, he devotes his time to distributing a range of biodegradable products around New Zealand.
What led to Rombout spending his "retirement years" this way?
Rombout's parents were food producers in Holland who, in the l950s, began growing their produce organically. In 1980 Rombout moved to New Zealand where he learned about biodynamic gardening. Biodynamics brings a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, food production and nutrition based on the work of Dr Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) whose philosophy is known as "anthroposophy". After gardening in Hawera Rombout moved to Whanganui five years ago "looking for an alternative business in an environmental area". Rombout began Eden Enterprises by buying in some stock of biodegradable products.
He then visited Taiwan, where the products were manufactured, and brought back a container of products to New Zealand.
What inspired Rombout's passion about biodegradable products?
Rombout says: "The nasty thing about plastic is that it ends up where it should not be.
Even in landfills it takes many years to degrade. Oceans are full of it. Chemical-based products are harmful for the environment."
Rombout's vision is that everyone becomes much more aware of the dangers of (everyday) chemically-based products on their health and the health of the environment.
He also wants people to be more aware of organic food and its health advantages.
Rombout estimates New Zealand is lagging about 10 years behind Europe in the supply and availability of organic food. He attributes this to an abundance of space, relatively clean air and water, and that we seem not to be so concerned about organic food.
What is his vision for the future?
Rombout is a great believer in the importance of education for all ages.
His vision for children is for them to be shown that the quality of life is more important than just accumulating wealth.
He believes everyone needs to be educated about the importance of organic food in their diet.
He wishes that: more people would be willing to reduce their reliance on plastic and, where possible, use biodegradable alternatives; that large stores and supermarkets invest in biodegradable plastic bags (ie, in 2007/8 New World in Christchurch bought 100,000 shopping bags); and major recycling companies have better facilities for biodegradable products. (One recycling company in Wellington told residents it was easier to recycle plastic than to recycle biodegradable products!)
Local subscribers of Eden Enterprises biodegradable products include a Masters Games food supplier (in both 2013 and 2015), the Maternity Unit at Whanganui Hospital, as well as cafes and other food outlets.
Depots in both Whanganui and Hawera handle the delivery of products, with most orders now being transacted via the internet.
¦See the Eden Enterprises website for photos, descriptions and prices of the full range of products www.edengreennz.com
Rombout is a grand example of what can be done when one is "retired"!