large_20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - Square.png

medium_20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - Square.png

small_20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - Square.png

thumbnail_20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - Square.png

20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - Square.png

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

large_20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

medium_20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

small_20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

thumbnail_20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

20250428 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

Business case

Producing building materials and providing services to create residential and non-residential infrastructure and real estate


Construction and Infrastructure

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

Use waste as a resource

**End poverty in all its forms and everywhere**

![1..JPG](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/1_8e0d31a497.JPG)

Since 2015, global poverty reduction was already slowing down and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic reversed three decades of steady progress with the number of people living in extreme poverty increasing for the first time in a generation. Recovery from the pandemic has been slow and uneven as the world is presently facing multiple geopolitical, socioeconomic, and climatic risks. 
Given current trends, 575 million people (nearly 7% of the world’s population) will still be living in extreme poverty in 2030 compared to 800 million in 2015 (or 10.8%). 
A surge in action and investment to enhance job opportunities and extend social services to the most excluded is crucial to delivering on the central commitment to ending poverty.
The 2030 Agenda acknowledges that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.


Priority actions on poverty eradication include:
- improving access to sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurial opportunities, and productive resources;
- providing universal access to basic social services;
- progressively developing social protection systems to support those who cannot support themselves;
- empowering people living in poverty and their organizations;
- addressing the disproportionate impact of poverty on women;
- working with interested donors and recipients to allocate increased shares of ODA to poverty eradication; and
- intensifying international cooperation for poverty eradication.

 For more information and documents on this topic, please visit [this link](https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/povertyeradication)

Sources: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal1](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal1)
[https://sdgs.un.org/topics/poverty-eradication](https://sdgs.un.org/topics/poverty-eradication)

1.JPG

1. No poverty   

End poverty in all its forms and everywhere

Slow strategies aim to keep materials in use for as long as possible, for example through design for durability and repairability. A more circular economy is also a slower one: materials, components, and products—and even buildings and infrastructure—that we lock in stocks are made to last. This will lower material demand in the long run, in essence also serving to narrow resource flows.

Slow

Industries

small_coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

thumbnail_coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

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

large_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

medium_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

small_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

thumbnail_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

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

![fh.JPG](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fh_45de648312.JPG)

**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)

large_sdgs.png

medium_sdgs.png

small_sdgs.png

thumbnail_sdgs.png

sdgs.png

![Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2024_10_21_at_16_53_12_12858da6aa.png)

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

medium_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

small_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

thumbnail_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

thumbnail_blob

blob

Cup Concept

The explosive growth of single-use packaging at festivals, events, and public venues has led to overflowing bins, excessive waste, and mounting pressure on local waste management systems. Disposable cups, often used for just minutes, contribute disproportionately to pollution, carbon emissions, and resource depletion—especially when made from plastic or coated paper that’s difficult to recycle. Reusable cup systems offer a scalable, practical solution to this growing crisis. By replacing single-use waste with durable, returnable alternatives, they help event organizers reduce environmental impact, meet regulatory demands, and enhance the sustainability credentials of their brand.&nbsp;Cup Concept delivers comprehensive services as a central partner for reusable cup systems. With expertise spanning planning, production, printing, logistics, and cleaning, the company offers tailored advice through dedicated regional, national, and international contacts. A skilled field team provides on-site consultations to develop custom reusable concepts. Expert guidance is available to identify the most suitable reusable cups for any event type. Quantity planning, logistical process design, and cost-effective branding options are all part of the end-to-end solution. Clients benefit directly from deep industry knowledge and operational experience. Every event comes with its own unique requirements. They offer a wide range of customizable rental concepts designed to meet varying reuse needs. Options include unbranded reusable cups or branded editions featuring well-known beverage or licensed brands. Solutions are adapted to match the size, tone, and sustainability goals of each occasion.&nbsp;<img src="https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/cup2_48a2001f41.jpg">Photo: Cup ConceptAs a leading manufacturer of reusable cups, Cup Concept places the highest priority on both product quality and service excellence. Ongoing innovation, responsive service models, and forward-looking product development allow the company to adapt quickly to changing market demands. Continual technical and environmental upgrades to washing systems support the operational integrity of the reusable system, reinforcing their position as the market leader in Europe. Cup Concept delivers not just products, but complete reusable solutions. Whether through sale or rental, services are structured around the specific needs and goals of each client. Close customer relationships and direct market engagement are essential to the company's long-standing success. Sustainable business relationships are built on equality and trust. Long-term collaboration with private customers, event organizers, hospitality professionals, and public stakeholders allows Cup Concept to offer truly market-driven solutions.&nbsp;<img src="https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/cup3_503456bcc4.jpg">Photo: Cup ConceptAt the heart of the philosophy is a commitment to exceptional processing quality and service reliability. Innovations in product development and flexible service offerings are ongoing priorities—ensuring responsiveness in a fast-changing market. Thanks to a consistent focus on ecological optimization and technical modernization, particularly in the area of cleaning infrastructure, Cup Concept continues to strengthen its leadership position in the European reusable cup industry.&nbsp;Cup Concept is guided by a strong environmental philosophy. The organization is deeply committed to developing ecologically responsible reusable systems—particularly in response to evolving and increasingly strict environmental regulations. Product development focuses on maximizing durability while minimizing ecological footprint. Environmental responsibility extends to the company’s internal logistics. All vehicles in the fleet meet or exceed Euro 6 emissions standards, utilizing diesel particulate filters, AdBlue®, or similar exhaust purification technologies. Cups that can no longer be reused are directed toward material recycling.&nbsp;<img src="https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/cup1_92b747d746.jpg">Photo: Cup Concept