Circular economy by 2050

Fewer new materials needed in a circular economy

As demand worldwide for products and materials grows, many raw materials are becoming scarcer and harder to obtain. The Netherlands doesn’t want to be dependent on countries outside Europe for raw materials.

If we have a circular econo my, we will not need as many new raw materials. We can reuse or repurpose those that are already circulating. Or replace them with sustainable biomaterials, such as plant trimmings or agricultural residues. This is good for the economy, the climate and biodiversity because:

• if fewer raw materials are being produced and processed, greenhouse gas emissions will be lower;
• there will be less waste and less litter in the streets, parks and nature areas;
• Dutch industry and food production will be less dependent on other countries for raw materials;
• it will create new jobs and businesses, such as specialised repair shops;
• it will create new business models, based on subscriptions and leases. Examples include a bicycle subscription, and a company that takes back used mattresses and recycles them.

Accelerating the transition to a circular economy

The government is looking at what’s needed in the short term to cut down on the use of new raw materials and reduce waste. The measures are set out in the National Circular Economy Programme 2023-2030 and the National Circular Economy Programme 2025 (in Dutch).

Examples of things the government is doing:

• Central government has a circular policy for buying goods and services.
• The government encourages product sharing. For example, neighbours can share a car, which reduces the total number of cars.
• The government is encouraging industry to use more biomaterials instead of fossil resources like oil and gas. Biomaterials can be used to produce chemicals, textiles, energy, food and animal feed. Using biomaterials will reduce industrial carbon emissions.

Circularity in business and industry

The government has set objectives on moving to a circular economy. And it is in talks with companies on how to achieve them.

The government and the construction industry have made an agreement on sustainable construction (in Dutch). It includes things like reusing construction waste and materials from demolished buildings, and using more sustainable, biobased materials like hemp and timber.

There are also programmes in which companies make agreements about adopting more circular practices. For instance, extracting a nd processing metals often harms the environment. So manufacturers can agree to reuse metals or develop substitutes from more sustainable biomaterials. Or they can make production processes more sustainable. Manufacturers of wind turbines, solar panels and other technologies are involved in these programmes. 

International cooperation for a circular future

Many companies have operations around the world. Raw materials, finished and semi-finished goods and waste are shipped all over the globe. For instance, raw materials are sourced from Asia and discarded products are shipped to Africa.

This means that the government needs to work w ith other countries to develop a circular economy. It does this at EU level and also in the United Nations. In the EU, the Netherlands has proposed helping industry to recycle more plastic in Europe. We would then need to buy less oil and plastics from other countries.

The Netherlands is a member of the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), in which more than 40 countries, companies and international organisations work together.

Knowledge and skills for a circular economy

The transition to a circular, sustainable economy needs people who have the right knowledge and skills, and who are willing to help each other. That is why central government is investing in:

• a register in which consumers can find repair companies;
• changing consumers’ behaviour through public education campaigns like Zet ook de knop om (‘change your mindset’);
• an organisation for businesses that want to adopt circular practices (Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair);
• regional collaboration between governments and companies, to determine how much space circular companies need.

Making and adjusting plans on the way to 2050

To ensure that the Netherlands can have a completely circular economy by 2050, the government monitors and makes adjustments to the programmes where necessary.

• The Integral Circular Economy Report (in Dutch, ICER) is published by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) every two years.
• Progress is also reviewed every two years at the National Circular Economy Conference (in Dutch).