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The Circularity Gap Report: Friesland is a joint initiative led by Circulair Friesland, the Province of Friesland, and Circle Economy to track Friesland’s progress toward a more circular economy while also serving as a model for other regions. As the organizations behind this dashboard, we aim to provide structured indicators to measure key aspects of circularity—such as resource efficiency, waste reduction, and circular jobs—alongside on-the-ground case studies that highlight innovative local initiatives. This approach helps policymakers, businesses, and communities assess progress, address challenges, and accelerate Friesland’s transition to a circular economy. In doing so, Friesland is working toward meeting the national goal of reducing primary resource use by 50% by 2030 and achieving a fully circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050.

Beyond Friesland, this dashboard is designed as a replicable tool that can be implemented in other regions worldwide. By fostering comprehensive comparisons, it enables knowledge sharing and collaboration, allowing regions to learn from one another and scale successful strategies. In addition to tracking current trends, the monitor offers forward-looking recommendations to drive circular development—both within Friesland and beyond—helping to create a more sustainable global economy.

This case study collection supports the dashboard, in showcasing circular economy projects and initiatives already occurring in the region.

CGR Friesland

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Business case

Providing water and sewage services, including water collection and distribution, water treatment systems and sewage treatment facilities

Water and Sewage

Utilise waste streams as a source of secondary resources and recover waste for reuse and recycling

Use waste as a resource

Consider opportunities to create greater value and align incentives that build on the interaction between products and services

Rethink the business model

Replace freshwater with less impactful alternatives and enact water efficiency measures

Regenerative water

**Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all**

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Billions of people still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, despite improvement in the provision of these basic services. Water scarcity is a growing problem in many parts of the world, and conflicts and climate change are exacerbating the issue. 
Water and sanitation are at the core of sustainable development, and the range of services they provide underpin poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. However, in recent decades overexploitation, pollution, and climate change have led to severe water stress in locales across the world.  
In addition, water pollution is a significant challenge that affects both human health and the environment in many countries. 

Today, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, and more than 4.2 billion people lack safely managed sanitation. Climate change is exacerbating the situation, with increasing disasters such as floods and droughts. 80 percent of wastewater in the world flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused, and 70 percent of the world’s natural wetland extent has been lost, including a significant loss of freshwater species. 

The COVID-19 pandemic poses an additional impediment, impairing access for billions of people to safely manage drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services – services desperately needed to prevent the virus from spreading. 

Boosting infrastructure investment, improving cross-sectoral coordination, and addressing climate change are key to getting SDG6 back on track.

Sources: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6)
[https://sdgs.un.org/topics/water-and-sanitation](https://sdgs.un.org/topics/water-and-sanitation)



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6. Clean water and sanitation  

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

**Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns**

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The world is seriously off track in its effort to halve per-capita food waste and losses by 2030.The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on consumption and production patterns, with disruptions to global supply chains and changes in consumer behaviour. 

Responsible consumption and production must be an integral part of the recovery from the pandemic. 
But the global economy also needs to speed up the decoupling of economic growth from resource use by maximizing the socio-economic benefits of resources while minimizing their negative impacts. 

Reporting on corporate sustainability has tripled since the beginning of the SDG period, but the private sector will need to significantly improve reporting on activities that contribute to the SDGs. 

This primarily entails environmentally sound management of "toxic chemicals" A substantial use of chemicals is essential to meet the social and economic goals of the world community, and these can be used with a high degree of safety when best practices are followed.  Gross chemical contamination, with grave damage to human health, genetic structures reproductive outcomes, and the environment, has been continuing within some of the world's most important industrial areas, and restoration will require major investment as well as the development of new techniques.
Effective control of the generation, storage, treatment, recycling and reuse, transport, recovery and disposal of hazardous wastes is another similar challenge. 
In addition,  solid wastes include all domestic refuse and non-hazardous wastes such as commercial and institutional wastes, street sweepings construction debris, and, in some countries, human wastes. As hazardous waste is frequently intermixed with other waste, this poses particular management challenges.
Finally, this target ensures that radioactive waste is safely managed, transported, stored and disposed of, with a view to protecting human health and the environment. 

To deliver SDG12, it is crucial to implement policies that support the shift to sustainable practices and decouple economic growth from resource use.

Sources: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12)
[https://sdgs.un.org/topics/chemicals-and-waste](https://sdgs.un.org/topics/chemicals-and-waste)

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12. Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Regenerate strategies phase out hazardous or toxic materials and processes and substitute them with regenerative biomass resources. A circular economy aims to mimic natural cycles—by shifting to more regenerative farming practices, for example—while also maximising the share of circular biomass that enters the economy. Regeneration can happen both at the systems level (by designing regenerative processes) as well as at the product level (by switching synthetic to organic fertilisers, for example).

Regenerate

Cycle strategies aim to cycle and reuse materials at their highest value: they maximise the volume of secondary materials re-entering the economy, ultimately minimising the need for virgin material inputs and therefore also narrowing flows. Of course, virgin materials will always be needed to a degree: all materials degrade and can’t be cycled infinitely, use energy, and require blending with virgin materials to maintain strength and functionality.

Cycle

Industries

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The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

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**These 17 Goals recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.**

The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, and especially on the Millennium Declaration adopted in September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York which let to the elaboration of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.

In 2015, the Paris Agreement was signed. A major blueprint came out of this: The Sustainable Development Goals: 17 overarching goals—and 169 targets—that governments are aiming to meet by 2030. Significant progress has been made in terms of poverty, health and inequality, but there's still a way to go. This is where the circular economy comes in: by circulating resources multiple times, the circular economy tackles issues of scarcity and allows all to access what they need—without overburdening the earth. If it's implemented in a holistic way—affording attention to social considerations and the fair distribution of resources— it also offers a pathway for achieving the SDGs; and the link between the two is ever-growing. To read more about the link between the SDGs and the circular economy, click [here](https://www.circle-economy.com/blogs/how-the-circular-economy-can-help-us-reach-the-sustainable-development-goals).

It is the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) which provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues. TheDSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and in advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the global goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.
Alongside this, the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs.
In addition, the UN Secretary-General presents an annual SDG Progress report, which is developed in cooperation with the UN System, and based on the global indicator framework and data produced by national statistical systems and information collected at the regional level.

To read more information: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals](https://sdgs.un.org/goals)

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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 De productie van een plasticvervanger uit zuiveringsslib is een kansrijke ontwikkeling voor het terugwinnen van grondstoffen. In het PHARIO-project (2015 tot 2017) zijn daarvoor al succesvolle pilotproeven uitgevoerd. In vervolg hierop hebben vijf waterschappen, STOWA, HVC en Paques Biomaterials in het PHA2USE-project samengewerkt om deze ontwikkeling verder op te schalen. Het belangrijkste doel van het project was om een zodanige schaalgrootte te realiseren dat er voldoende materiaal ter beschikking zou komen. Hiermee konden de materiaaleigenschappen worden vastgesteld om een goede indruk te krijgen van het marktpotentieel.Met deze ontwikkeling kunnen waterschappen niet alleen een waardevolle grondstof terugwinnen. Zij maken ook een product met een grote maatschappelijke relevantie, omdat ze daarmee de verspreiding van schadelijke microplastics in het milieu kunnen tegengaan. De plasticvervanger die in het PHA2USE-project gemaakt wordt, is juist een natuurlijk materiaal dat uitstekend afbreekbaar is en tegelijk vergelijkbare eigenschappen heeft als plastic. Deze plasticvervanger, Caleyda® genaamd, is een biopolymeer die chemisch gezien geschaard wordt onder de familie van polyhydroxyalkanoaten ofwel PHA. Het wordt gevormd doordat bacteriën de vetzuren in afvalwater opeten en omzetten in een materiaal dat plastic kan vervangen. Ze slaan dit materiaal op als energiereserve in hun cellen. Dit materiaal wordt vervolgens uit de cellen gehaald en schoongemaakt. Wat overblijft, is een poeder. Dit poeder kan gebruikt worden als een natuurlijk alternatief voor plastic in verschillende producten.Het project heeft waardevolle informatie opgeleverd over de opschalingsmogelijkheden. Er zijn grote stappen gezet in de ontwikkeling en toepassing van het materiaal. Tegelijkertijd zijn er belangrijke aandachtspunten naar voren gekomen die moeten worden opgelost. Een belangrijk aandachtspunt is bijvoorbeeld het verlagen van de kosten van de extractie van vetzuren uit zuiveringsslib. Verder blijkt de verdere marktontwikkeling tijdrovend. Ook de tot dusver beperkte beschikbaarheid van Caleyda® blijft lastig. Om dit op te lossen realiseert Paques Biomaterials een PHA-extractiefaciliteit in Emmen. Het project heeft laten zien dat er een duidelijke vraag is naar Caleyda®, die ook nog eens toeneemt. Ook heeft de technologie tijdens het project een sterke ontwikkeling doorgemaakt. Dit biedt veel perspectief. Wel moeten er nog wel enkele zaken worden uitgezocht voordat waterschappen een grote investering kunnen doen in grootschalige productie. Het ongelijke speelveld in de stimulering van biogasproductie versus grondstoffenproductie is daarbij een punt van zorg. Mede gezien de hoge ambities van de waterschappen om toe te groeien naar een circulaire economie is het belangrijk om in beweging te blijven en deze kans verder te ontwikkelen, aldus de opstellers van het rapport. 

Friesland

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Wetterskip Fryslân

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STOWA 

The PHA2USE project in Friesland is pioneering a circular approach to wastewater management by converting wastewater sludge into Caleyda®, a biodegradable plastic substitute. Led by Wetterskip Fryslân, this initiative repurposes waste streams, reduces reliance on fossil-based plastics, and reinforces Friesland’s position as a leader in circular innovation. By demonstrating the viability of bio-based materials derived from municipal waste, PHA2USE contributes to regional sustainability goals and advances water technology in Friesland.Friesland’s leadership in circular water technology through the PHA2USE project underscores the region's commitment to sustainable water innovation. By repurposing wastewater into biodegradable plastics, this initiative sets a benchmark for the circular economy, demonstrating how waste streams can be transformed into valuable resources.

From Wastewater to Worth: The PHA2USE Project

Article / Report

Enacting measures that optimise water use

Water efficiency

**Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable**

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The pandemic has caused major shifts in migration patterns, including huge movements of people in and out of urban areas. Furthermore, climate change and conflicts tend to have disproportionate impacts on cities. These factors mean that the world is far from achieving the goal of sustainable cities.  
In many developing countries, slum populations have been growing, putting at risk the target of adequate housing for all by 2030. Since 2015, the number of countries with national disaster risk reduction strategies has more than doubled. 

Cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, and social, human and economic development. Urban planning, transport systems, water, sanitation, waste management, disaster risk reduction, access to information, education and capacity-building are all relevant issues to sustainable urban development.

This target entails multiple essential concepts such as disaster risk reduction (DRR) and sustainable transport.

To achieve SDG 11, efforts must focus on strengthening capacities for planning for urban development, improving access to public transportation, and enhancing waste management. 

Sources: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11)
[https://sdgs.un.org/topics/sustainable-cities-and-human-settlements](https://sdgs.un.org/topics/sustainable-cities-and-human-settlements)


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11. Sustainable cities and communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

 We kijken al 750 jaar vooruit. We houden de voeten droog en onze dijken sterk. We zorgen voor een goed waterpeil in sloten...  Lees verder over onze organisatie 

Rationale and ContextualisationWetterskip Fryslân (WF), the regional water authority of Friesland, plays a vital role in managing water levels, ensuring dike safety, and maintaining water quality across the province. As a steward of water systems and infrastructure, WF’s operations intersect with some of the most resource-intensive and climate-sensitive sectors in the region- energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and biodiversity.Recognising the climate and resource challenges of the 21st century, Wetterskip Fryslân has set an ambitious dual goal: to become climate neutral by 2030 and fully circular by 2050, as outlined in its Climate Programme.These ambitions extend beyond internal operations; they guide the entire water management value chain. To reach 100% circularity by 2050, every investment and design decision made today must anticipate future reuse. This includes infrastructure such as dikes, pumping stations, and treatment plants. For example, when replacing a pumping station or renovating a dike in 2050, Wetterskip Fryslân wants to ensure that all materials used can be repurposed.Water is increasingly being recognised not just as a vital natural resource but as a carrier of valuable raw materials. Every drop of wastewater holds the potential for reuse, energy generation, and material recovery. As such, WF’s ambition is to no longer treat water as a waste stream, but as a source of high-value circularity. Water plays a crucial role in Friesland, which is known for its numerous lakes, canals, and waterways. It also supports production processes in circular transition sectors such as hydrogen, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable food.In doing so, WF’s circular vision aligns with global resource challenges and local sustainability goals, particularly those outlined in national agreements like the Green Deal, Klimaatakkoord, and the Regional Energy Strategy. The organisation’s ambitions also support Friesland’s overarching vision to become a model circular region in EuropeHistory and Reason for CreationWetterskip Fryslân’s circular journey began under the banner of climate action. In 2017, it published a pioneering ‘climate umbrella’ strategy that laid the foundation for a climate-neutral, future-proof organisation. Initially focused on climate adaptation and mitigation, the strategy quickly expanded to include a broader circular economy lens, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).As climate adaptation and mitigation priorities evolved, so did Wetterskip Fryslân’s focus on circularity. By integrating circular principles into daily operations, Wetterskip Fryslân has kept circularity at the core of all decision-making processes, from procurement and infrastructure to workforce and innovation.Aim, Structure, and GovernanceWetterskip Fryslân’s circular economy mission is threefold:Become climate neutral by 2030Achieve 100% circular operations by 2050Embed circularity into all water and infrastructure projects, from design to executionTo operationalise this vision, Wetterskip Fryslân has adopted a structured and phased approach. The <a href="https://www.wetterskipfryslan.nl/documenten/visie_fryslan_klimaatbestendig_2050-versie-20-juli-2023.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Climate Programme</a> outlines ambitions to become climate neutral by 2030 and fully circular by 2050. The Raw Materials Agreement sets tangible targets: since 2023, Wetterskip Fryslân demands 100% circular materials, tenders 100% circular projects by 2030, and aims to reuse 50% of raw materials. A dedicated <a href="https://www.wetterskipfryslan.nl/documenten/visie_fryslan_klimaatbestendig_2050-versie-20-juli-2023.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roadmap for Climate-Neutral and Circular Assets </a>provides impact assessments per asset group, and the Implementation Plan for Circular Business Operations ensures internal processes align with circular goals. Additionally, WF has committed to zero-emission equipment and a zero-emission fleet.Circularity and climate neutrality are mutually reinforcing: by using raw materials more circularly, significant reductions in CO₂ emissions are achieved. The combination of systemic planning and project-level action drives this transition.Wetterskip Fryslân’s ambitions are operationalised through strategic programs and participation in collaborative platforms. Key examples include the Energy and Raw Materials Factory (EFGF), which focuses on large-scale recovery of materials like phosphorus, cellulose, and bioplastics from wastewater, and the WiCE (Water in the Circular Economy) initiative, a joint research project with KWR Water Research Institute that envisions a fully circular water chain by 2050, grounded in refuse, reduce, and redesign strategies.Wetterskip Fryslân’s operations are also guided by national policy frameworks and regional implementation tools like the Frisian Regional Monitor for Circular Economy, which tracks progress on emissions, energy use, and resource recovery.Projects and initiativesWetterskip Fryslân is actively planting the seeds for future scale-up by implementing several innovative circular economy initiatives. These initiatives demonstrate circularity in practice while also serving as pilots for broader replication.Resource Recovery: Materials such as phosphate, cellulose, bioplastics, and effluent water are recovered from wastewater streams. Wetterskip Fryslân seeks to collaborate with partners to integrate these materials into new value chains.Innovative Local Wastewater Purification: Projects like <a href="https://waterschoon.nl/over-waterschoon/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Waterschoon</a> and <a href="https://circulairfriesland.frl/spoordok-leeuwarden/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spoordok</a> focus on decentralised wastewater treatment, recovering resources like biogas, heat, and fertiliser pellets, and producing high-quality water for reuse.Cellulose Pilot Project: Cellulose recovered from wastewater is tested in infrastructure applications such as cycle paths, offering a new route for material reuse.Friesland Climate-Proof 2050+: A long-term vision for a sustainable water and soil system, with circular principles at its core.Demo Site Leeuwarden: This location serves as a testbed for circular innovations and the development of scalable solutions.Participation in <a href="https://knowledge-hub.circle-economy.com/article/30506?n=Watercampus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wetsus</a>: Wetterskip Fryslân collaborates with Wetsus to contribute to cutting-edge research in sustainable water technologies.Circular Construction Projects: Projects like the circular pumping station at Kalverdijkje, the use of recycled concrete, and ‘green dikes’ exemplify circular construction.WF also runs several flagship circular water projects for which it is renowned. These are the Water Clean 2.0 project, which pilots an innovative system designed to treat household wastewater at the source in 200 households. Through this system up to 100 litres of water per household can be saved. Another frontrunning project is the Sludge-to-Clay pilot project which is a collaboration with It Fryske Gea and Waddenzeedijk to transform incinerated sludge into usable clay for dike reinforcement.These pioneering projects reflect Wetterskip Fryslân’s role as both a water authority and an innovation leader.Beyond these projects initiatives to boost circularity in infrastructure and procurement are also central to WF’s actions. Wetterskip Fryslân invests significantly in long-lifespan infrastructure—pumping stations, dikes, and treatment plants. Circular principles are embedded into the design phase of all future builds. For instance the Kalverdijkje Pumping Station which exemplifies a pioneering circular construction project, completed with a higher cost and time investment, but seen as a “learning lab” to build capacity and internal buy-in. An example of how circular procurement is integrated is through circular workwear and catering. In partnership with the Circular Commissioning and Purchasing programme, WF has adopted circular procurement principles for textiles and food services, prioritising transparency, functionality, and social value.Furthermore, as a signatory of the Clean and Emission-Free Building covenant, WF is taking steps to decarbonise construction and maintenance. Pilot projects include the use of electric vessels and temporary EV charging units for construction in aquatic environments.Beyond water related implementation, WF has co-created Grienskip BV- a joint venture with Caparis and Empatec, operating under the Participation Act. It offers job training and reintegration opportunities for people distanced from the labour market, especially in green and maintenance-related roles such as invasive plant removal and nature-friendly watercourse management. This showcases a holistic version of the circular economy that ensures benefit for both people and the planet.The Frisian Approach&nbsp;Wetterskip Fryslân takes a pragmatic, iterative approach to its circular transition. Rather than striving for perfection from the outset, it prioritises experimentation, resilience, and continuous improvement. Challenges, such as those faced during the Kalverdijkje project, are openly acknowledged and used as valuable learning opportunities. This reflects the regional approach to circular economy implementation, where collaborative and iterative learning play a central role.At the core of this approach is a strong internal culture of openness, collaboration, and curiosity-principles that also define Friesland’s broader circularity strategy. Cross-functional teams are encouraged to innovate, take ownership, and co-create new circular standards. Within WF, there is a shared understanding that working on innovative circular projects requires a learning process that accommodates trial and error, ultimately leading to success.Wetterskip Fryslân’s approach to circular water management aligns with the wider Frisian ethos, which not only focuses on actions and initiatives but also emphasises the collaborative process. Rooted in trust and community, this process integrates both bottom-up organic measures and top-down efforts, fostering a culture of learning by doing and learning together.Regional Significance and UniquenessWetterskip Fryslân stands at the intersection of Friesland’s most powerful assets: water, land, and community. Its work supports not only circular economy goals but also regional ambitions in climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and energy transition.The organisation’s focus on water-related circularity complements broader regional strengths in biobased materials, agriculture, and construction- positioning Friesland as a leader in systemic, place-based circular innovation. Wetterskip Fryslân is unique in its approach to collaboration- embedding circularity across the entire chain, from procurement officers and engineers to citizens and conservationists. Its focus on ‘mienskip’- community-rooted cooperation- ensures that its impact is both top-down and bottom-up.Tracking Progress and ImpactWetterskip Fryslân uses a range of monitoring and reporting tools to ensure accountability and enable learning:Climate &amp; Water Quality: The <a href="https://waves.databank.nl/mosaic/dashboard/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Klimaatmonitor</a> for water authorities, in place for over a decade, tracks climate-related indicators.Circularity Monitoring: Progress is measured using tools like the DGWW2030 Dashboard (focused on sustainable infrastructure), as well as metrics on resource recovery and soil reuse.Clean &amp; Emission-Free Construction (SEB): Wetterskip Fryslân participates in the SEB programme, which sets concrete targets to reduce NOx, CO₂, and PM10 emissions in construction- fostering cleaner, quieter, and healthier building sites by 2030.CSRD Reporting Roadmap: A voluntary sustainability reporting roadmap will be developed by mid-2025, enabling benchmarking with other organisations.Outcomes and ImpactThough WF’s circular transition is ongoing, it has already contributed to a number of impactful circular economy outcomes including high-profile pilots in biobased material recovery and innovative wastewater treatment, structural integration of circularity into procurement and infrastructure, active workforce participation and job creation through Grienskip, and ensuring climate-neutral energy operations (weather-permitting) from 2025 onward.By 2050, the ambition is clear: water will no longer be treated as waste, but as a carrier of energy, materials, and renewal. Wetterskip Fryslân is leading the charge, one project at a time.ConclusionWetterskip Fryslân’s circular and climate-neutral ambitions are not abstract targets- they are being brought to life through coordinated planning, targeted policies, collaborative innovation, and rigorous monitoring. From wastewater to dikes, from procurement policies to demo sites, the organisation is laying a foundation for systemic change. By embedding circularity in infrastructure, operations, and partnerships, Wetterskip Fryslân is not only future-proofing its own work but positioning Friesland as a European frontrunner in sustainable water and climate management.