HOW THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT CAN REALISE ITS CIRCULAR AMBITIONS

WRITTEN BY ADAM STONES - COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR METABOLIC
https://www.metabolic.nl/in-the-news/how-the-dutch-government-can-realise-its-circular-ambitions/

Ahead of the Dutch national elections, the magazine De Ingenieur asked ten opinion formers what the next Government needs to do to help the Netherlands transition to greater renewable energy use and the circular economy. Metabolic’s CEO Eva Gladek was one of those asked to outline what needs to happen to realise a more sustainable future.

Metabolic outlined to De Ingenieur that whilst it is exiting that the Government has committed to realising a circular economy by 2050 (and reducing material use by half by 2030), the plans remain vague and require some strong leadership. She suggested five ways that will help get us there:

1. Make it clear what a circular economy should look like

2. Provide data on material flows

3. Do something about the demand for commodities

4. Develop new financing models

5. Create a market for circular products

You can read more on these five points in the full article, in Dutch.

https://www.deingenieur.nl/artikel/tech-kopstukken-grote-rol-overheid#.WKHRmFYWwlw.twitter

1 Comment

Jim Bowes's picture
Jim Bowes

A good start for Amsterdam would be to define what Circular is. I have attended several events and each one had a slightly different view. Develop standards so that there is a way to separate the authentic from the pretenders. The second would be to give preference to partners with Circular Economy business models.
I am working with Amsterdam and have been asking people within the gemeente if I should develop a business model that is circular or one that offers the lowest prices. Half would like circular, half would like low prices. In my opinion, this is confusing at best and shows Amsterdam doesn't really have a policy to guide itself at worse. Love to become Circular but so far I have yet to find the solid business rational to do so. If being the lowest cost supplier with little regard for anything but money results in actually winning more business, than to invest in Circular is actually a bad idea for my business.
If low price remains the main driver of sales for Amsterdam, it will be a long journey towards the Circular Economy.
One the other hand, by preferring suppliers who are developing Circular models and supporting them with Amsterdam's business, we could accelerate the journey towards the Circular Economy.
Here's to hoping that Amsterdam will practice what it preaches as opposed to just creating a nice marketing strategy that pays lip service to those who are willing to take the road less traveled.

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