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Samen maken wij 100.000 bedrijven restafval-vrij in 2025! Seenons maakt het omschakelen naar een duurzame bedrijfsvoering gemakkelijk. Seenons bundelt de krachten van traditionele afvaldienstverleners en duurzame logistieke partijen in een intelligent platform. Jij geeft aan welke specifieke afvalstromen er vrij komen bij jou in het bedrijf. Wij kijken welke partij bij jou in de buurt is en halen het afval op de meest duurzame manier op. Dit gebeurt allemaal contract vrij en is optimaal flexibel opgesteld. Geen vaste dagen met betrekking tot het ophalen. Simpelweg: bak vol? Geef het door, wij regelen de rest! Op de hoogte blijven van ontwikkelingen of meer informatie? Stuur een mailtje naar seenons.com>

**Seenons heeft een duidelijke missie: mensen samenbrengen voor een wereld zonder restafval. Hoe ze dat doen? Ze hebben een platform ontwikkeld waar restafvalstromen van bedrijven aan circulaire verwerkers worden gekoppeld en vervolgens worden omgezet om tot nieuwe producten. Deze missie is nu beloond met een internationale prijs: The Circular Innovation Award!** Na meerdere rondes was het tijd voor een laatste pitch door een van de founders van Seenons, Joost Kamermans. Een paar highlights van de pitch waren: * Seenons matcht jouw overbodige grondstoffen aan producenten die hier iets moois van kunnen maken * We faciliteren fijnmazige inzameling door samen te werken met verschillende logistieke partijen * We werken samen met zoveel mogelijk lokale verwerkers die hier nuttige producten van maken * In het meest ideale geval kopen de ontdoeners deze circulaire producten weer terug, zodat de cirkel rond is * Daarnaast maken we dit gehele proces steeds transparanter * Zijn nu primair in de randstad actief, maar zullen snel gaan uitbreiden in Nederland en daarbuiten **Terwijl wij groeien neemt de afvalberg af** In de afgelopen maanden zijn we uitgebreid naar meerdere steden. De fijnmazige inzameling in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Den Haag en Eindhoven is operationeel. De software is een stuk verder ontwikkeld; met enkele klikken zijn bedrijven van hun restafval af. Het aantal partners op het gebied van inzameling en verwerking stijgt hard....en we hebben recent een investering opgehaald om onze technologie verder te ontwikkelen en meer circulaire reststromen te onderzoeken. **Op zoek naar ondernemingsverenigingen en gemeenten** We willen alle bedrijven die afval produceren bereiken. Mochten ze lid zijn van een ondernemersvereniging, dan is dat helemaal super. Zo kunnen we samen meer bereiken. Maar iedereen is welkom.. Op dit moment focussen wij ons - naast de traditionele reststromen - op de randstedelijke gebieden voor de stromen koffiedrab en sinaasappelschillen. Daarvoor komen wij ook graag met gemeenten in contact om gezamenlijk de inzameling op te pakken. **Restafval wordt zeep of orangecello** We vinden al onze circulaire verwerkers waste heroes, dus we hebben geen favoriet product. Al is Kusala wel een fantastisch voorbeeld van een verwerker die ‘over-de-datum’ olijfolie verwerkt tot mooie zepen. En Dik&Schil wordt veelvuldig gebruikt op de vrijdagmiddagborrel bij Seenons op kantoor. De prijs is erkenning van onze visie over hoe je de wereld restafvalvrij kunt krijgen en dat we daarmee in stedelijk gebied ook nog een logistiek probleem oplossen. Ook biedt het ons de mogelijkheid om versneld op te schalen buiten Nederland. We kunnen samen met partijen al gaan kijken naar oplossingen en mogelijkheden. Alleen samen bereiken wij een wereld zonder restafvalvrij en daar hebben we iedereen hard bij nodig! Lees meer over de **[projecten van Seenons](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/search?q=seenons&type=update)**. **Note van ASC: Heb je input of tips voor voor Seenons? Laat ze achter in de comments.**

*Scroll down for the English version* ## **Seenons zamelt met datagedreven logistiek stromen gescheiden in** **De circulaire economie wordt het nieuwe normaal. En data zijn de zuurstof van dat nieuwe normaal. In de Metropool Amsterdam werken tal van organisaties al hard aan circulaire initiatieven waarbij data een belangrijke rol speelt. Zo ook Seenons, dat bedrijven helpt bij duurzame afvalscheiding en -inzameling. ‘Wij willen de weeffouten uit het systeem halen.’** Echt eigentijds is de huidige afvaldienstverlening voor bedrijven niet. Grote wagens rijden op door hen bepaalde tijdstippen door onze straten. Het merendeel van het afval wordt verbrand. En los van papier en glas is het vrij ingewikkeld om aparte afvalstromen in te zamelen en op te laten halen. ‘Ik viel van de ene in de andere verbazing toen ik me in deze wereld ging verdiepen’, vertelt Jorn Eiting van Liempt, eigenaar van Seenons. ‘“Hier moet iets veranderen”, dacht ik. Ooit was afvalverbranding misschien een goed alternatief, nu kunnen we echt beter.’ Samen met Joost Kamermans startte Eiting van Liempt in september 2019 Seenons, een bedrijf dat wil bijdragen aan de circulaire economie door de afvaldienstverlening te verbeteren. Ze ontmoetten elkaar in de Amsterdamse startup-gemeenschap. Kamermans: ‘Als we in 2050 100 procent circulair willen zijn, dan moeten we iets doen, zo dachten we. We moeten ervoor zorgen dat onze grondstoffen straks eindeloos kunnen rondgaan in ons systeem. Dus daar proberen we aan bij te dragen. Het is onze ambitie dat er in 2025 100.000 bedrijven restafvalvrij zijn.’ ### **Afvalstromen managen** Seenons helpt bedrijven om afvalstromen gescheiden in te zamelen. Het is een digitaal platform waarop bedrijven hun eigen afval kunnen managen. Ze krijgen inzicht in hun stromen en de waarde ervan, ze kiezen welke stromen zij apart willen laten ophalen en betalen daarvoor. Seenons regelt vervolgens de logistiek. Soms nemen pakketbezorgers de gescheiden afvalstromen mee, soms wordt het afval door een elektrische bakfiets opgehaald of door een traditionele afvaldienstverlener. Zelf heeft Seenons ‘geen wielen’, legt Eiting van Liempt uit. ‘Wij verbinden partijen aan elkaar: zo werken we met pakketbezorgers, maar ook met de sociale dienst: mensen die voor de plantsoenendienst door de stad rijden halen soms ook bij bedrijven reststromen op.’ Hun bedrijf is naar eigen zeggen de ontbrekende schakel tussen de data en de daadwerkelijke uitvoering. Kamermans: ‘Wij zagen dat veel startups in de circulaire economie zich vooral richten op data, op het in kaart brengen van afvalstromen. Maar daarmee breng je nog geen sinaasappelschillen van Schiphol naar Brabant. Vandaar dat wij ons ook zijn gaan focussen op de logistiek.’ Kamermans en Eiting van Liempt werken volgens de lean-startupmethode. Kamermans: ‘We hebben dus eerst de markt gescand en veel mensen gesproken over hun afvaluitdagingen. Op basis daarvan bedachten we dit platform en gingen we op zoek naar klanten. Binnen no-time hadden we vijftig aanmeldingen: van restaurants tot voetbalverenigingen en een infrastructuurbedrijf. Toen moesten we aan de bak en zijn we het product gaan bouwen.’ ### **Pulp en koffiedrab** Zo’n 150 organisaties maken nu gebruik van Seenons. Bij het ene bedrijf zorgt Seenons ervoor dat alleen de koffiedrab wordt opgehaald, bij het andere bedrijf zijn het sinaasappelschillen — daar zit waardevolle olie in —  en bij weer een ander bedrijf zijn het vooral elektronische apparaten. Eiting van Liempt: ‘Bedrijven denken er vaak heel moeilijk over, maar het is gewoon een kwestie van beginnen. Je begint met een of twee stromen gescheiden inzamelen en breidt dat langzaam uit. Kijk naar Yoghurt Barn, een klant van ons: zij hebben binnen twee weken hun restafval met 82 procent kunnen verminderen. Zelfs de kiwischillen die overblijven na het maken van fruitshakes zijn nog bruikbaar: deze zamelen we gescheiden in om er siroop van te maken, wat Yoghurt Barn weer kan verkopen in hun winkel.’ In samenwerking met de KNVB helpt Seenons ook voetbalclubs. Daar worden blik en petflesjes apart ingezameld, wat die clubs geld oplevert. Ook deed Seenons een geslaagde pilot met Dijkstra Plastics, het bedrijf dat de emmers voor sauzen van Remia produceert. Daarbij haalden pakketbezorgers bij snackbars lege mayonaise-emmers op. ‘Wij zagen in onze data van snackbars dat deze emmers met het restafval meegingen en hebben toen contact gezocht met Dijkstra Plastics’, zegt Kamermans. ‘De pilot liet zien dat je die emmers gescheiden kunt ophalen, maar dat het tegelijkertijd ook complex is om zo’n systeem te veranderen. Je kunt die emmers bijvoorbeeld niet zomaar opnieuw gebruiken voor saus, daar zijn allerlei regels voor. Als tussenoplossing gaat Dijkstra deze emmers nu verwerken tot verfemmers.’ ### **Wetten in de weg** Hoewel ze dus een voorspoedige start kennen, zijn er ook uitdagingen. Vooral de huidige regelgeving ervaren de ondernemers als een belemmering. Bijvoorbeeld dat het in veel gevallen nog goedkoper is om bepaalde stromen met het restafval weg te gooien. En dat er geen financiële prikkel is die het gebruik van gerecyclede materialen interessanter maakt dan het gebruiken van virgin-materialen. En dan is er natuurlijk ook nog de coronacrisis. Horeca en sportverenigingen waren de grootste klantgroep van Seenons, maar hun activiteiten liggen nu grotendeels stil. Gelukkig hebben zich andere grote partijen gemeld: reguliere klanten, maar ook financiële instellingen. Die hebben interesse in de datagedreven afvalprofielen die Seenons opstelt. Kamermans: ‘Bedrijven die een lening nodig hebben kunnen met dat profiel hun duurzaamheidsambities aantonen. Dat is voor die dienstverleners waardevolle informatie en voor ons een interessante nieuwe markt die we aan het ontdekken zijn. Dankzij de data.’ Om hun ambities waar te maken zijn Kamermans en Eiting van Liempt op zoek naar een investeerder die hen kan helpen om door te pakken. Hun tip aan andere bedrijven die circulaire businessplannen hebben? ‘Vraag je altijd af of je idee ook zou aanslaan als duurzaamheid geen rol zou spelen. Natuurlijk, voor potentiële klanten is circulariteit interessant: maar je moet er ook voor zorgen dat je iets aanbiedt dat tegelijkertijd ook beter, eenvoudiger en/of goedkoper is dan iets dat al bestaat.’ Deze artikelenreeks is een initiatief van [Hogeschool van Amsterdam](https://www.hva.nl/urban-technology/subsites/nl/kc-techniek/lectoraten/circulair-ontwerpen-en-ondernemen/technisch-innoveren-en-ondernemen.html) \| [Gemeente Amsterdam](https://www.amsterdam.nl/bestuur-organisatie/werkmap/ons-beleid/ambities-uitvoeringsagenda-2019/gezonde-duurzame-stad/amsterdam-circulair-2020-2025/?utm_source=www.amsterdam.nl&utm_medium=internet&utm_campaign=circulair&utm_content=redirect) \| [Amsterdam Economic Board](https://amsterdameconomicboard.com/) \| [Amsterdam Smart City](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/channel/circular-city) \| [Metabolic](https://www.metabolic.nl/) en [AMS Institute](https://www.ams-institute.org/). Samen willen zij de circulaire economie in de Metropoolregio Amsterdam versnellen met praktische verhalen voor en over ondernemers en bedrijven. ### **Lees verder** [Volop kansen in de nieuwe circulaire werkelijkheid](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/news/a-wealth-of-opportunities-in-the-new-circular-real) [Slim datagebruik in de circulaire economie: de drie belangrijkste redenen](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/news/slim-datagebruik-in-de-circulaire-economie-de-drie-belangrijkste-redenen) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ## 100,000 companies residual waste-free by 2025 ### Seenons uses data-driven logistics to collect waste streams separately **The circular economy is becoming the new normal, and data is propelling it. In the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, numerous organisations are already hard at work on circular initiatives that prioritise the application of data. Among them is Seenons, which helps businesses manage their sustainable waste separation and collection. ‘We want to fix the flaws in the system.’** Waste disposal services for businesses have not exactly kept up with the times. Big bin lorries drive through the streets at certain times of day. Most of the waste is incinerated. And paper and glass aside, it’s quite complicated to separate waste streams and have them collected. ‘I got one surprise after another when I began delving into this world,’ says owner of Seenons Jorn Eiting van Liempt. ‘“Something has got to change here,” I thought. Waste incineration once might have been a good option, but now we really can do better.’ In September 2019, together with Joost Kamermans, Eiting van Liempt founded Seenons, a company aimed at contributing to the circular economy by improving waste services. The two co-founders met in the Amsterdam start-up community. ‘We realized that if we want to be 100 per cent circular by 2050, then we would have to do something about it,’ Kamermans says. ‘We would need to enable our raw materials to circulate endlessly in the system. So this is where we are trying to make a contribution. Our goal is for 100,000 companies to be residual waste-free by 2025.’ ### Managing waste streams Seenons helps businesses get their waste streams collected separately. The Seenons digital platform lets companies manage their own waste. It provides insights into the waste streams and their worth, which helps them choose which streams to have collected separately and pay for it. Seenons then arranges the logistics. The separated waste might be picked up by a parcel deliverer, an electric cargo bike or a traditional waste service provider. Seenons has no wheels of its own, Eiting van Liempt explains. ‘We connect the parties. We work with parcel deliverers, but also with the municipal services, as the people who drive around the city doing parks service sometimes also collect waste from companies.’ Seenons is the missing link between the data and the actual implementation, Kamermans says. ‘We saw that a lot of start-ups in the circular economy mainly focus on data, on mapping waste streams. But that doesn’t actually get discarded orange peels from Schiphol to Brabant. This is why we also focus on logistics.’ Kamermans and Eiting van Liempt apply the lean start-up methodology in their work. ‘We first scanned the market and talked to a lot of people about their waste challenges,’ says Kamermans. ‘From there, we came up with this platform and started looking for customers. In no time, we had 50 customers signed up, from restaurants to football clubs, and we had an infrastructure company on-board. Then we had to get to work on building the product.’ ### Pulp and coffee grounds Around 150 organisations now use Seenons. For one company, Seenons might arrange the collection of coffee grounds, for another it might be orange peels – which contains valuable oil – and for another it might be mainly electronic devices. ‘Companies often assume it has to be very hard, but it’s just a matter of getting started,’ says Eiting van Liempt. ‘You begin with one or two separate collection streams and expand slowly. Take our client Yoghurt Barn: they were able to reduce their residual waste by 82 per cent within two weeks. Even the kiwi skins left over from making fruit shakes are still usable: we collect them separately to make syrup, which Yoghurt Barn can then sell in their shops.’ In collaboration with the Royal Dutch Football Association, Seenons also helps football clubs. The clubs have their cans and PET bottles collected separately, which generates money. Seenons also ran a successful pilot with Dijkstra Plastics, the company that produces the containers for Remia sauces. Parcel deliverers pick up the empty mayonnaise containers from snack bars. ‘We saw in our data from snack bars that these containers were being disposed as residual waste, and then we contacted Dijkstra Plastics,’ says Kamermans. ‘The pilot showed that you can collect the containers separately, but at the same time, it’s complex to change a system like this. You can’t just reuse the containers for sauce, as there are all sorts of rules about that. As an interim solution, Dijkstra is now going to process the containers into paint buckets.’ ### Regulations in the way Although Seenons is off to a good start, there are also challenges. The co-founders find current regulations to be particularly constraining. For example, it is often less costly to dispose some streams along with the residual waste. Moreover, no financial incentive makes it more economical to use recycled materials than virgin ones. And then of course the corona crisis is an issue. Cafés, restaurants and sports clubs were Seenons’ biggest group of customers, but their activities have now largely come to a standstill. Fortunately, sign-ups have come from other organisations, not only the usual customers, but also financial institutions interested in the data-driven waste profiles that Seenons creates. ‘Companies that need a loan can use this profile to demonstrate their ambitions for sustainability,’ Kamermans says. ‘This is valuable information for these service providers. For us, it’s an interesting new market to discover. All thanks to data.’ To realise their goals, Kamermans and Eiting van Liempt are seeking an investor who can help them to push ahead. Their advice to other businesses with circular business plans? ‘Always ask yourself whether your idea would also work if sustainability didn’t play a role. Of course, circularity appeals to potential customers, but you also have to ensure that what you’re offering is better, simpler and/or cheaper than something that already exists.’ This article is an initiative by [Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences](https://www.amsterdamuas.com/car-technology/shared-content/professorships/circular-design--business/circular-design--business.html?_ga=2.3174963.289404769.1606128063-707237507.1605603257) \| [City of Amsterdam](https://www.amsterdam.nl/bestuur-organisatie/werkmap/ons-beleid/ambities-uitvoeringsagenda-2019/gezonde-duurzame-stad/amsterdam-circulair-2020-2025/?utm_source=www.amsterdam.nl&utm_medium=internet&utm_campaign=circulair&utm_content=redirect) \| [Amsterdam Economic Board](https://amsterdameconomicboard.com/en) \| [Amsterdam Smart City](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/) \| [Metabolic](https://www.metabolic.nl/) \| [AMS Institute](https://www.ams-institute.org/). Together we are working to accelerate the circular economy in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, sharing practical stories for and about entrepreneurs and businesses. ## Read more [A wealth of opportunities in the new circular reality](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/news/a-wealth-of-opportunities-in-the-new-circular-real) [Smart data usage in the circular economy: 3 key reasons](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/news/slim-datagebruik-in-de-circulaire-economie-de-drie-belangrijkste-redenen)

Afval scheiden geen nut? Zeker wel! In de pilot van Seenons en Yoghurt Barn hebben we mooie resultaten behaald. Van 2.000 liter restafval naar 360 liter in 1 week! Een besparing van 82%. Een mooie kans voor Seenons om met Yoghurt Barn uit te breiden naar meer locaties. En daarmee impact te vergroten Door de bronscheiding van the yoghurt barn en het inzetten van fijnmazige logistiek zijn wij in staat om reststromen circulair te verwerken! Hiermee wordt de Co2 verlaagd en worden reststromen weer opnieuw gebruikt.

Ben of ken jij eigenaren van horecazaken en bedrijven waar wij kunnen helpen bij het gescheiden inzamelen van koffiedrab? Wij zijn op zoek en horen het graag in de comments. Door met Seenons je afval - nee reststromen - gescheiden op te laten halen wordt het duurzaam opgehaald en circulair verwerkt. En kunnen hier weer mooie producten van worden gemaakt die anders zouden zijn verbrand. Het inzamelen gebeurt uiteraard op de meest duurzame manier, want in samenwerking kunnen wij de koffiedrab in geheel Amsterdam ophalen met de elektrische wagens van onze partners GroenCollect BV en Pantar. Van deze koffiedrab kunnen we heel veel mooie circulaire producten maken zoals bijvoorbeeld de zeep van Kusala Gifts of de personal care producten van Unwaste. Samen maken we de cirkel rond! Kijk voor meer informatie: [https://seenons.com/koffie/](https://seenons.com/koffie/)

Join us on March 22 for an insightful webinar on Preventing Waste & Closing Material Loops. The webinar will be opened by an expert from the **United Nations Environment Programme.** This introduction is followed by a presentation of Merel Schaap, Impact Analyst at Seenons, who will share how a technology platform can enable the circular economy. We will conclude the session with presentations on challenges by different municipalities, nonprofits and companies that are looking for solutions. These challenges are part of **[CircleHub's competition](https://www.circularsolutions.co.il/challenges)** which runs until June 20. Winning solutions will be awarded or will receive investment to carry out a Proof of Concept. The session is part of [CircleHub](https://www.circularsolutions.co.il/)'s **[webinar series](https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/circlehub-webinar-series-1757269)** happening this March and April. The series consists of four sessions, which are opened by an expert from the United Nations Environment Programme who will give a Keynote on the subject, followed by presentations of best practices around the globe. The session will be closed with information on the competition and presentation by the organizations behind the challenges on our platform.

Tomorrow morning we will officially launch this new online platform during the event 'Mindset voor een Menselijke Slimme stad'. It promises to become a really interesting event about the changes our world needs, the diverse values we need to achieve change, how to strengthen each other and a good dose of inspiration. Want to join? Then join us from 09.30h onwards: [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85274832895](http://post.spmailtechnol.com/f/a/FMH8F1fkCFtTxQCONPGibg~~/AAQxAQA~/RgRhk8Q6P0QlaHR0cHM6Ly91czAyd2ViLnpvb20udXMvai84NTI3NDgzMjg5NVcDc3BjQgoAR7qQsl8PkuSmUhxuYW5jeUBhbXN0ZXJkYW1zbWFydGNpdHkuY29tWAQAAAAA). Note: the event will be in Dutch! **Program** 09.30 uur - opening 09.45 uur - keynote and Q&A Klaas van Egmond 10.15 uur - breakouts 10.40 uur - break 10.45 uur - start-up pitches, with Seenons, Asset Hubble and Geofluxus 11.10 uur - launch Amsterdam Smart City platform More info, check [https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/event/de-mindset-voor-een-menselijke-slimme-stad.](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/event/de-mindset-voor-een-menselijke-slimme-stad)

Technology helping to make cities more sustainable and better is not a new concept. It is the idea behind the "Smart City" concept. But nobody wants to live in a Smart City that focuses only on technology. Of course, we want to live in a safe, green and vibrant city. How do we create sustainable and liveable cities? How can technology be a useful tool in this? How do we put people at the center of these cities and take their values into account in the development? On the 17th and 18th of November 2020 we held two events on this important topic, together with BTG and the City of Almere. This video shows you the event of the 17th of November. Klaas van Egmond, professor of Geosciences, takes us through an inspiring story about various values and the mindset required to meet challenges in cities. After this talk, you will see a roadshow with three start-ups that realize better streets, neighborhoods and cities, using technology: \- Geofluxus \- 'We map waste' \- Asset Hubble \- 'Detecting cracks in masonry' \- Seenons \- 'Waste collected easily\, sustainably and separately' As icing on the cake, we are launching the new online platform where you get daily inspiration and knowledge online. In short, an event full of new insights, network and inspiration! Check out the video of the event on Tuesday 17 November 2020:

**Last December, the 20 partners of Amsterdam Smart City came together to present the progress of innovation projects, ask for input, share dilemmas and involve other partners in their initiatives.** **Following the thought that nobody wants to live in a smart city but in a nice, friendly, cosy city we work on challenges in which people play a central role. These gatherings are called Demo days and occur every 8-10 weeks. Get a quick overview of the topics and projects about to happen in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area and let us know if you want to be involved!** #### **ELSA Lab: AI, Media & Democracy** Pascal Wiggers, senior lecturer Responsible Artificial Intelligence at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, is working on an Ethical Legal Societal Aspects Lab to investigate and shape the impact of AI on our society. The University of Applied Sciences is doing this in co-creation together with residents, companies, knowledge institutions and governments. Partners want to understand how AI-driven applications in the media and public space influence democracy. They also want to experiment with new applications of AI in the media and in the democratic process and draft new ethical and legal guidelines. Pascal is looking for parties that want to join the consortium. Various Amsterdam Smart City partners are interested to join. You too? #### **Object Detection Kit** Keeping the city streets clean is a major challenge. Maarten Sukel from the City of Amsterdam developed an image recognition system that shows streets in real time maps. For example, garbage bags and other unwanted objects in the street scene are recognized. The system is based on machine learning and ultimately, we can clean Amsterdam more efficiently and sustainably. The system is continuously improved and tested. In the future it might be used for the recognition of water puddles in the streets, track missing pets, link with a module that shows the value of objects on the streets and more. #### **Seenons** Seenons believes in a future with 0% residual waste as a standard. Seenons makes it easy to separate waste and then pick it up separately and sustainably. Citizens and companies offer their separate flows via an app, the Seenons platform proposes the optimal route with the best transport options and delivers the residual flows to processors who make new products of them. Seenons also prevents contamination of flows through clear separation and fine-meshed collection. Environmental friendly transport is used, such as cargo bikes. #### **Mapping of material flows** Maintaining the value of the raw materials was a central topic at this Demoday. Martijn Kamps from Metabolic started with a presentation about recycling of materials. Based on cases in Rotterdam and Philadelphia he showed that there is a lot of construction and demolition waste that is still dumped or burned. This is issue is still not solved because there is too little data available about these materials. According to Metabolic, urban mining can help. A lot information about volumes of waste is available, but there is no business case yet. You can see where flows come from, identify them, decide where you store materials in the meantime and then, where you want to reuse them. The PUMA project was one of the first projects in this field and current projects are all a sequel to PUMA. Arnout Sabbe from Geofluxus continued. Geofluxus is a startup which originates from REPAIR, a project with Metabolic and AMS Institute, among others. Geofluxus is working on a reclassification model for raw materials. Currently, there are many databases in which raw materials are registered. Geofluxus brings these together as a combination of data sources from industrial waste. In the Geofluxus monitor you can see how p.e. wood from the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area eventually spreads all over the world. It shows the impact on the road network and CO2 emissions for certain waste streams elsewhere. Geofluxus is developing this monitor for the City of Amsterdam and expects to have it ready by the end of next year, although the municipality is dependent on the availability of data. New partnerships are therefore necessary. But a first success is already visible: through the monitor is clear that 70% of the waste in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area is caused is used by only 7% of companies. A result worth continuing this work and something to hold on to! #### **Collaboration between governments and innovative companies** In order to innovate we have to work together; governments and innovative companies. That is not always easy. Various organizational cultures and interests collide. Everyone is in their own system and has its own pace. We had an open and honest discussion on this based on two cases. One of the companies started with some positive feedback: the region is at the forefront of circularity, there is a lot of attention and ambition. But collaborating is different. The company experiences a lot of reluctance, especially from governments. There is little willingness to take responsibility and work outside existing frameworks. In addition, there is an enormous fragmentation of tasks and a fear of explicitly saying yes or no. For the other company this story is recognizable. They experience a lot of enthusiasm about their company, but still it takes a huge amount of time to involve different departments and decision making is very slow. They noted it is time to get out of the pilot sphere and important to mention business models early on. There was a lot of understanding and recognition from the government side. They recognized the stories about the silos and indicated that it takes a lot of people and time to make decisions. Governments are less likely to think outside the box and both parties must invest in building trust. The advice that came out for both parties: embrace complexity, be persistent, be open to each other, be clear about expectations, go where the energy flows. And as a positive conclusion: once collaboration is there, governments are nice, loyal and reliable partners. #### **CleanMobileEnergy (CME)** Cenex The Netherlands is in the middle of the development of an intelligent Energy Management System (iEMS), based on three urban pilots in Nottingham (UK), Arnhem (NL) and Schwabisch Gmund (DE). The goal is to develop a transnational and generic iEMS. In these cities, the pilot elements are currently being put out to tender and connected to the iEMS. Cenex would like to know which mobility and energy initiatives could be suitable for integrating in this iEMS. #### **Sharing Energy in Almere Haven** The City of Almere joined Amsterdam Smart City as a partner and has many great initiatives to share with the network. In 2020 Almere started EARN-E to reduce the use of electricity and gas in people's homes. Next year, Wijkie will be launched: this combines the energy transition with social needs in a neighbourhood. The core is the sharing of energy with your neighbours in your neighbourhood. In order to set up Wijkie successfully, it is important to enter into dialogue with residents. #### **The Energy Transition Explained** The energy transition is "hot". Much has been reported in the media, but the reporting is not always easy to understand and sometimes even confusing. Knowledge is needed to critically follow the news about the energy transition. That is why Sanne de Boer wrote the book ‘De energietransitie uitgelegd’. The book provides all the basic knowledge needed to follow news and form informed opinions in discussions. Sanne is looking for suggestions for where to market her book to be able to transfer this knowledge. #### **Curtailment for solar panels** As an energy platform, Vandebron is an innovative player in the field of sustainable energy. They took us along in the story of solar panel curtailment: remotely on and off switching of energy. A well-known phenomenon in the energy world is that the electricity demand is reasonably stable, but due to the volatility of renewable energy there are significant peaks in the electricity supply every year. The result is that the energy grid becomes full due to the surplus of electricity. This creates problems for the grid operator, who is then forced to hand out a fine. In this case, this means a possible fine for Vandebron, who then has to pass it on again to the producer. Nobody is happy about that. Curtailment could be a solution. Curtailment makes sure that a surplus can be avoided, when solar panels are switched off in time. The central question is: "How to do this effectively?" It is clear that some degree of curtailment is inevitable, but it is also important to determine whether the energy surplus can be reduced in another way. There is still a world to be won with out-of-the-box thinkers on board. #### **Energy from braking power** The engine of a train or tram is comparable to the dynamo of a bicycle. In addition to powering the train, the motor is also able to generate energy. This happens, for example, during braking. How can we return the energy that is generated to the grid? And what are the options to apply this in neighbourhood hubs? Arcadis told us that energy generated with the brake of a train, can provide an average household with energy for 2.5 weeks. This offers a lot of opportunities. Braking energy can be deployed immediately in your own system, it can be stored and then deployed, it can be made available to other parties via neighbourhood hubs. And there is more. Suggestions at that popped up at the demoday: returning energy to grid operators, making a link with buses, ferries and taxis, supplying shops at the station, neighbourhood batteries. To get a step further, possible obstacles have to be overcome as well of course. Experts will work on technological challenges and the saving of a lot of energy in a short time among others. In January, Arcadis, the City of Amsterdam, AMS Institute and Alliander will continue working on this topic. Interested? Then contact us.

**Next week the seventh edition of the Week of Circular Economy will take place again! From 7 till 12 February 2022 entrepreneurs, universities, colleges, governments and all kinds of other organizations open their doors to take other professionals into the world of circular economy. Great examples are given a stage, pioneers get the chance to meet, success factors and challenges for circular business are discussed and starters are given tips to get started themselves. In short, it will be one week full of inspiring events for everyone who’s interested in the circular economy.** On the website of the organisation you will find an overview of all the events that will take place throughout the country. But instead of letting you browse all 267 events yourself, we have already done that for you. We’ve created a list with events in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area that we think you don’t want to miss out on. **7 February** **13:00 - 14:00 [Expedition: Upcycle Center](https://deweekvandecirculaireeconomie.nl/programma/expeditie-upcyclecentrum/)** Almere is upcycling. This means reducing waste by reusing materials and making them valuable again. Join the digital walk through the [Upcycle Center](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/project/upcyclecentrum-almere) of Almere and find out more about what they have been working on these past 4 years. (also on 11 February 14:00 - 15:00) **8 February** **13:30 – 15:00 [There is nothing as durable as plastic](https://deweekvandecirculaireeconomie.nl/programma/er-is-niks-zo-duurzaam-als-plastic/)** For Waternet and the AGV it’s become very normal to fish plastics out of the water. What smart things can we do with these plastics and how can we prevent it from entering the water? During this livestream the nuisance of plastic will be discussed. What floats in our waters? What are we doing about it? Who/what is needed? Upgrading or prevention? Or both? **13:30 - 14:30 [Zero waste entrepreneurship](https://deweekvandecirculaireeconomie.nl/programma/zero-waste-ondernemen/)** If you are an entrepreneur who wants to be more aware of the reduction and processing of your waste, then this online event is for you. [Seenons](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/organisations/seenons), Zero Waste Nederland and YB will work with you to find out how industrial waste can be reduced and how they can help you on your way to zero waste business operations. Where do you start as an entrepreneur? How do you get your employees involved? Or your customers? Curious how your waste can have a second life, as a raw material for new products or services? **16:00 – 17:00 [Talkshow: Circular Economy in Almere](https://deweekvandecirculaireeconomie.nl/programma/talkshow-circulaire-economie-in-almere/)** During this interactive and informative online talk show you will be taken on a bird's-eye view of a number of important circular projects in Almere. The people behind these projects and who are committed to the circular economy are invited to the [Upcycle Center](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/project/upcyclecentrum-almere) to join the show! **16:00 – 17:00 [Circular economy – is our tax system ready?](https://deweekvandecirculaireeconomie.nl/programma/circular-economy-is-our-tax-system-ready/)** The SDG Academy event by the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute will dive deep into Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. VU researchers, together with consultancies EY and [Royal HaskoningDHV](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/organisations/royal-haskoning-dhv), concluded that entrepreneurs and consumers need to be provided with a clear long-term policy on tax effects in greening, reducing emissions and introducing circular business models. How can changing the tax system at both the European and domestic level stimulate a circular economy? **20:00 [A capital spin on the circular economy](https://www.dezwijger.nl/programma/een-kapitale-draai-aan-de-circulaire-economie)** Have you ever fantasized about a future that is both circular and more equitable? A future where property disappears and is exchanged for responsibility? And where financing is also circular? The Sustainable Finance Lab will take you on a journey to this dreamlike future during their live program at [Pakhuis de Zwijger](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/organisations/pakhuis-de-zwijger). **10 February** **12:00 – 13:00 [Circuloco: Co-creation Session](https://deweekvandecirculaireeconomie.nl/programma/co-creatiesessie-circuloco/)** [Circuloco](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/news/circulair-paviljoen-maakt-zich-klaar-voor-de-floriade) will be a circular pavilion on the Floriade 2022. After the Floriade Expo, the building will be dismantled and rebuilt on Steiger 66. The design, construction, implementation, completion and reconstruction: everything is done by and with local creators. It will be a stage where circularity and creativity meet. It will be a place where you can learn, experience and meet. They are now working on the last details of this pavilion – do you want to join this process? **14:00 - 15:15 [#NordicTalks2022 - Food for Good](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/event/nordictalks2022-food-for-good)** The Nordic Chamber of Commerce and the Nordic Embassies in the Netherlands invite you to explore how the Nordic countries and the Netherlands are approaching the food system transition for good together with their experts. During this online event you will find out more about topics like the food system transition, sustainable food systems, preventing the waste and role of data. **16:00 [Demo Day – No Waste Challenge 2021](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/event/demo-day-no-waste-challenge)** What Design Can Do and [Impact Hub Amsterdam](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/organisations/impact-hub) invite you to the Demo Day of the No Waste Challenge 2021. After taking part in the half-year Development Programme, 16 winning teams of the No Waste Challenge will present their project, business case, their ambitions and their biggest needs moving forward, such as funding to scale-up, strategic partners, launching customers and specific expertise. You get to meet these amazing creative entrepreneurs during the online event and enter in conversations with them in different breakouts. **11 February** **10:00 – 12:00 [The Amsterdam Circular Monitor](https://deweekvandecirculaireeconomie.nl/programma/de-monitor-voor-de-circulaire-economie/)** We are increasingly talking about making material flows circular. But what are the numbers and types of materials involved? And what impact do they have on the environment and our society? The [Municipality of Amsterdam](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/organisations/gemeente-amsterdam-1) will proudly present the first version of the Amsterdam Circular Monitor. A monitor – developed in collaboration with CBS and [TNO](https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/organisations/tno) – that shows how the various material flows move through the Greater Amsterdam region. From import and production to consumption, recycling and loss. This is just a small selection of the huge range of events that are being hosted. Curious what else there is? Then check it out on the website of the Week of Circular Economy.