Ambitious Goals in the Netherlands

The Netherlands plans to shift completely to a circular economy by 2050. The first intermediate goal is 2030, the date by which half of raw materials used are supposed to be recycled. In the construction industry, some municipalities already use the circular economy as one of the criteria in competitive tendering for public projects. To support the measurement of the degree of circular economy, material passports are also being introduced for buildings, with a view to improving the monitoring of the circulation of raw materials in the construction industry. Dutch independent research organisation, TNO, supports actively leading scientific institutes, companies, local communities and universities with their circular economy development projects. More information about CE- development projects from TNO website.

Picture 1. TNO is testing different wall elements made by fully recycled materials.

The Dutch government strongly supports the circular economy strategy, and several provinces, e.g., Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe have launched large-scale circular economy projects. There is a building project starting in the City of Assen, Drenthe, with the aim to build 100 residential buildings from 100 % recycled materials. Funding has already been obtained, and construction work will start in 2019.
In the Dutch provinces, groundwork for a shift to a circular economy has already been done for a long time. In Assen and at the schools in the biggest cities in Friesland, school children are taught about circular economy and sustainable development, starting from elementary school. Find more information about these development projects on Circular Friesland and TNO.

Text and pictures

Paula Lehtisaari
SeAMK Partner Coordinator