Business case

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Providing public and private education and support services at any level or for any profession, and governmental and public administration services, including judicial, regulatory, and legislative activities, taxation, defence, public order and safety, immigration services, foreign affairs and the administration of government programmes

Education and Government Services

Collecting waste from households and businesses by means of refuse bins, wheeled bins, containers, etc., and providing treatment, incineration, materials recovery and reclamation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste

Waste Management

Producing building materials and finished and semi-finished building products for construction

Construction Materials and Products

Transforming waste products into materials and lower value products within other industries

Open loop downcycling

Make collected and sorted recyclables available for use by citizens, small businesses up to large scale industrial processes. 

Use recyclables

Implementation of strategies to collect recyclable waste in order to make it accessible and available to be used as an input in industrial processes (big or small). These are door-to-door collection (higher recovery rates but more costly intensive), drop-off schemes (cheaper but less effective, more common in cities with high housing density), or a combination of the two, and their corresponding incentive schemes. 

Collect recyclables

Infrastructure for citizens or cities to sort waste and extract recyclables, including incentives and pay-as-you-throw policies, as well as clear and targeted communications campaigns.

Sort recyclables

Collection of waste arising from commercial and industrial actors

Collect non residential

Collect organic waste generated by households and related businesses for use in, for example, composting and anaerobic digestion facilities.

Collect organic

Other

Impacts

small_climate-4803653_640.jpg

thumbnail_climate-4803653_640.jpg

climate-4803653_640.jpg

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

![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

  News item | 23-09-2016 | 17:10The Netherlands is famous for its bike paths, now it has opened the world’s first bike path made from recycled toilet paper.    Image: GWW totaal  The bike path runs from Friesian provincial capital Leeuwarden to the town of Stiens. A consortium of local authorities and construction companies (Wetterskip Fryslân (Friesland’s water company), Province of Friesland, Stowa, Jansma & Roelofs, Esha Infra Solutions and KNN Cellulose joined forces to use the fibres from paper to make asphalt.Waste water Every year, 180,000 tons of toilet paper is flushed down the loo. On average a ton of asphalt requires 3 kilos of fibre, the industry needs around 10 to 15 thousand tons a year. The consortium put its best minds together to set up a process to recover the cellulose from waste water so it can be added to bitumen to prevent so-called “dripping”. In other words by increasing the viscosity of the asphalt it lasts longer. This unique process is a step towards making road construction more sustainable.
 Green Deal At the same time, everyone benefits from the circular economy. The water company finds a profitable outlet for getting rid of its slib - normally a costly business. And for the other partners in the circle, less energy and raw materials are used and therefore costs are reduced. The consortium is planning to construct two more bike paths from toilet paper.Water hub It’s no accident that Leeuwarden is the location for this pioneering technique as it is home to the European Technical Water Hub center WaterCampus and hosts the annual Watermatch conference.
 The project Van Afval naar Asfalt is part of the Green Deal made between the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure and the Environment in 2014.

Wetterskip Fryslan

Province of Friesland

Stowa

Jansma & Roelofs

Esha Infra Solutions

KNN Cellulose

Leeuwarden has opened the world's first bike path made from recycled toilet paper. A consortium of local authorities and construction companies (Wetterskip Fryslan - Friesland's water company, Province of Friesland, Stowa, Jansma &amp; Roelofs, Esha Infra Solutions and KNN Cellulose) joined forces to use the fibres from paper to make asphalt. Read more at:

Repurposing toilet paper into asphalt

thumbnail_20250403 - CGR Friesland - Cover - Square.png

20250403 - 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_20250403 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

medium_20250403 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

small_20250403 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

thumbnail_20250403 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

20250403 - CGR Friesland - Cover - KH Banner.png

Article / Report

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

Water and Sewage

Enacting measures that optimise water use

Water efficiency

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

![6..JPG](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/6_586f4a9bb3.JPG)

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)



large_Sustainable_Development_Goal_6.png

medium_Sustainable_Development_Goal_6.png

small_Sustainable_Development_Goal_6.png

thumbnail_Sustainable_Development_Goal_6.png

Sustainable_Development_Goal_6.png

6. Clean water and sanitation  

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

**Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development**

![14..JPG](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/14_b20fde15f1.JPG)

Destructive trends in ocean health have not abated. The ocean, the world’s largest ecosystem, continues to be endangered by rising acidification, eutrophication, declining fish stocks and mounting plastic pollution. While there has been some progress in expanding marine protected areas and combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing over the years, more concerted efforts and acceleration are urgently needed. Urgent and coordinated global action is needed to continue to advance towards SDG14.

Oceans, seas, and coastal areas form an integrated and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical to sustainable development. They cover more than two-thirds of the earth’s surface and contain 97% of the planet’s water. Oceans contribute to poverty eradication by creating sustainable livelihoods and decent work. Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. In addition, oceans are crucial for global food security and human health. They are also the primary regulator of the global climate, an important sink for greenhouse gases and they provide us with water and the oxygen we breathe. Finally, oceans host huge reservoirs of biodiversity.

In order for oceans, seas and marine resources to successfully contribute to human well-being, ecosystem integrity, with properly functioning biogeochemical and physical processes, is required. This does not require unperturbed systems, but systems that have not suffered serious or irreversible harm. Ecosystem integrity allows for the provision of so-called supporting ecosystem services which, in turn, are the bases of important regulating, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services that are of crucial importance for humans. 

Good governance, an enabling environment, sustainable land- and marine- based human activities, and adequate measures will be required to reduce the negative anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment, for example due to a more sustainable use of resources, changes in production and consumption patterns and improved management and control of human activities. Projects and measures should ideally be designed and implemented in an integrated, cross-sectoral and cross-scale manner, in line with the ecosystem approach and involving all stakeholders.

Sources: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14)
[https://sdgs.un.org/topics/oceans-and-seas](https://sdgs.un.org/topics/oceans-and-seas)


large_Sustainable_Development_Goal_14.png

medium_Sustainable_Development_Goal_14.png

small_Sustainable_Development_Goal_14.png

thumbnail_Sustainable_Development_Goal_14.png

Sustainable_Development_Goal_14.png

14. Life below water     

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

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

![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

        Lees meer          Lees meer          Lees meer   

Friesland

small_blob

thumbnail_blob

blob

Rijkswaterstaat

De Nieuwe Afsluitdijk

Waddenvereniging

 Natuurmonumenten

Other local and regional stakeholders

The Fish Migration River is the world’s first artificial river designed to allow migratory fish to travel freely between fresh and saltwater, supporting biodiversity preservation. Located at the Afsluitdijk in Friesland, this kilometre-long meandering waterway reconnects the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer, contributing to the recovery of fish populations and the strengthening of the local ecosystem. The project reflects Friesland’s commitment to sustainable biodiversity restoration through circular water management principles.By focusing on restoring natural water flows and removing barriers, the initiative not only enhances the local aquatic ecosystem but also promotes more efficient water use. Circular water management in this context helps prevent contamination, reduces the need for extensive water processing, and facilitates water reuse—further protecting and regenerating the environment. This approach demonstrates how circular principles can be integrated into water management to promote long-term ecological sustainability and resilience.

Restoring Ecological Balance: The Fish Migration River in Friesland

Policy case

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


Construction and Infrastructure

Upgrade, repair, and maintenance while in-use

Maximise lifetime of products in-use

Designing to reduce waste during production and use

Design out waste

Using bio-based materials such as bioplastics, mushroom-based materials, etc.

Alternative bio-based materials and inputs

Using materials that can be easily reused or recycled after use

Reusable, recyclable materials and inputs

**Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation**

![9..JPG](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9_aa8da1d9c6.JPG)

The manufacturing industry’s recovery from COVID-19 remains incomplete and uneven: some high-income regions achieved record-high manufacturing value added per capita in 2022 but levels in LDCs were not much higher than the 2015 baseline. 
In the aftermath of the pandemic, data show that higher-technology industries recovered faster and proved to be more resilient, pointing to the need to promote innovation and technology transfer in a way that benefits all countries. 

Inclusive and sustainable industrial development has been incorporated, together with resilient infrastructure and innovation, as Sustainable Development Goal 9 in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To achieve Goal 9 by 2030 it is essential to support LDCs, invest in advanced technologies, lower carbon emissions, and increase global mobile broadband access.

This goal's target includes:
- develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all;
- promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries;
- increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets;
- by 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities;
- enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending;
- facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States;
- support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities;
- significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.

Sources: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal9](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal9)
[https://sdgs.un.org/topics/industry](https://sdgs.un.org/topics/industry)

large_Sustainable_Development_Goal_9.png

medium_Sustainable_Development_Goal_9.png

small_Sustainable_Development_Goal_9.png

thumbnail_Sustainable_Development_Goal_9.png

Sustainable_Development_Goal_9.png

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure  

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

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

Aan de westkant van Leeuwarden heeft de provincie Fryslân een nieuwe centrale voor de bediening van 40 bruggen en een nieuw steunpunt voor de Provinciale Waterstaat laten bouwen: It Swettehûs.Met het op afstand bedienen van bruggen is het mogelijk om pauzes en tolgeld op bruggen af te schaffen. Op die manier kunnen we alle watersporters en de beroepsvaart gastvrij in Fryslân ontvangen. Naast een werkplek voor ongeveer 20 brugbedienaars, doet het nieuwe gebouw en terrein dienst als uitvalsbasis voor provinciale medewerkers vaarwegwegbeheer, nautische zaken en de technische dienst voor onder andere bruggen en sluizen.Voor meer informatie over brugbediening op afstand vanuit It Swettehûs, zie: Brugbediening op afstand | FryslanOrganisatie: Provincie FryslânProject: It Swettehûs, een circulair brugbedieningscentrum en steunpuntAanbestedingsprocedure: Europees niet-openbaar, met voorselectieGunning: Economisch meest voordelige inschrijving (80% kwaliteit, 20% prijs)Impact:44% van de toegepaste materialen is hergebruikt12% van de toegepaste materialen is biobasedVoldoende duurzame energieopwekking en -opslag voor gebruikers- en gebouwgebonden energie inclusief bediencentrale, het elektrische voer- en vaartuigenpark en één van de aangesloten bruggenAanbesteding: 4 juli 2019Start bouwteamfase: september 2019Vaststelling definitief ontwerp en ondertekening Engineer, Build & Maintain contract: 24 juni 2020Start voorbereiding: augustus 2020Start realisatie It Swettehûs: november 2020Hoogste punt bereikt: mei 2021Ingebruikname bediencentrum: december 2021Oplevering It Swettehûs en start onderhoudsovereenkomst: januari 2022Oplevering terrein en aanvaarding werk: juni 2022Projectleider Trienke laat je meekijken met de bouw van It Swettehûs. Specifiek hoe het bouwproces van een circulair en duurzaam gebouw er aan toe gaat. Kijk je mee, met de vlogs?Met de nieuwbouw wil de provincie Fryslân tegelijk een bijdrage leveren aan het realiseren van hoge ambities op het gebied van circulariteit. Dat betekent onder andere dat het Swettehûs zoveel mogelijk van secundaire en herbruikbare grondstoffen gebouwd wordt.Hieronder een overzicht van de nieuwsbrieven die zijn verschenen.Lees hier de nieuwsbrief juli 2022Lees hier de nieuwsbrief maart 2022Lees hier de nieuwsbrief december 2021Lees hier de nieuwsbrief september 2021Lees hier de nieuwsbrief mei 2021Lees hier de nieuwsbrief januari 2021Lees hier de nieuwsbrief oktober 2020Lees hier de nieuwsbrief juni 2020Lees hier de nieuwsbrief maart 2020Meer informatie over openingstijden bruggen en sluizen.

Leeuwarden

large_blob

medium_blob

Various Local Stakeholders

It Swettehûs, a circular bridge control centre in Leeuwarden, exemplifies how circular building practices can be embedded into critical infrastructure. Designed according to circular construction principles, the building minimises environmental impact through the use of recycled and bio-based materials, as well as energy-efficient systems.Led by the Province of Fryslân through a top-down procurement strategy, the project brought together more than 100 organisations from the Circular Friesland Association, fostering a collaborative, network-driven approach to sourcing materials and expertise.The design and construction process was shaped by the availability of materials, influencing planning, architecture, and building techniques. This adaptive and flexible method turned It Swettehûs into a real-time testing ground for innovative circular construction, reinforcing Fryslân’s commitment to experimentation and continuous learning.Builders and designers responded dynamically to emerging challenges, developing and applying new solutions that moved beyond conventional construction practices.

It Swettehûs: Circular Innovation in Infrastructure

Producing agricultural products and processing them into food and beverageproducts for consumption

Agri/Food

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

Use waste as a resource

**Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns**

![12..JPG](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/12_ff44598f2b.JPG)

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)

thumbnail_12.png

12.png

12. Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

 Het programma is ontstaan aan de Ambitietafel Sluiten Nutriëntenkringlopen. Het consortium aan deze tafel bestaat uit Wetterskip, Agricycling, Mulder Agro, Kollectievenberied, BoerenNatuur, gemeente Leeuwarden, gemeente Súdwest Fryslân, Provincie Fryslân, Wetsus, CEW, Van Hall Larenstein, Bioclear Earth, NHL Stenden Hogeschool, Hanze Hogeschool, RUG Campus Fryslân, Innovatiepact Friesland & Vereniging Circulair Friesland. Zij hebben gezamenlijk het thema verkend en dit naar een programma-opdracht vertaald. Mede vanuit de drijfveer van agrariërs om een toekomstbestendige positie in het voedselsysteem te verwerven, wordt er door een groep Friese koplopers reeds gewerkt aan het sluiten van deze kringlopen: 

Bermmaaisel en GFT en reststromen uit de voedingsmiddelenindustrie. Die kringloop ambities loopt tegen een aantal knelpunten aan die opgepakt dienen te worden. En om de kringloop volledig te sluiten moet uiteindelijk ook onze poep en plas (humane excreta) weer terug naar de grond. Op dat terrein zijn de eerste stappen gezet, maar ook daar loopt men tegen drempels aan. Met het programma ‘Sluiten Nutriëntenkringlopen’ worden de gezamenlijke knelpunten geadresseerd om de kringloop van humane excreta sneller tot ontwikkeling en realiteit te brengen.  Bekijk in de onderstaande platen wat het programma Nutriëntenkringloop verder inhoudt!  

Circulair Friesland is a network of a approximately 180 businesses, governmental organisations, knowledge or educational associations, and social organisations that work in collaboration to implement, facilitate and support the transition to a circular economy in the Province of Friesland, in the Netherlands. The network has a number of successful programmes and aims to help make Friesland one of the most circular regions in Europe.

Vereniging Circulair Friesland

A research centre for innovative water technologies located in Friesland that is centre point for Dutch water technology. The centre aims to facilitate not only research but also practical applications of technologies, and stimulates cooperation between businesses, knowledge institutes, and governments, in the Netherlands and beyond.

WaterCampus

Van Hall Laurenstein University of Applied Sciences

The Programma Sluiten Nutriënten Kringlopen (SNUK) aims to close nutrient cycles in Friesland by returning organic waste and human excrements to the soil as valuable resources. Through collaborative efforts, Frisian frontrunners, including farmers, researchers, and policymakers, are working to develop circular solutions for organic waste streams, such as roadside cuttings, green waste (GFT), and residual flows from the food industry. The initiative is crucial for reducing nutrient loss, enhancing soil health, and creating a more sustainable food system in Friesland.The SNUK programme showcases Friesland’s leadership in circular agriculture and nutrient management. Through collaborative action and innovation, it provides a replicable model for sustainable nutrient cycling in regional food systems.

SNUK: Closing Nutrient Loops in Friesland

Account for the systems perspective during the design process, to use the right materials, to design for appropriate lifetime and to design for extended future use

Design for the future

Work together throughout the supply chain, internally within organisations and with the public sector and communities to increase transparency and create joint value

Team up to create joint value

Narrow strategies reduce material and energy use. Currently, material use is highly inefficient and ineffective; we can deliver similar social outcomes by using much less and phasing out fossil fuels, for example. This doesn’t mean being worse off, but rather focusing on using materials efficiently: think in terms of riding a bike instead of driving a car, eating less meat, and living in a space that suits your needs. Using less is a core tenet of the circular economy—yet currently, the threshold for sustainable consumption, 8 tonnes per person, is being surpassed by 1.5 times. 

Narrow

    Welcome to Circ-NSR's website. Circ-NSR is a project co-funded by the North Sea Region Programme 2014 - 2020.
Circ-NSR is in the final stages and will soon publish new material    

Circ-NSR Project 

Friesland has set an ambitious goal to achieve maximal circular procurement by 2025, aiming to purchase 10% of physical products circularly, implement circular street furniture, and transition to non-fossil fuel vehicles. As part of the Circ-NSR project, this initiative focuses on developing effective governance structures for circular public procurement, fostering collaboration among regional public authorities. By demonstrating how circular procurement can be successfully implemented at a regional level, Friesland is positioning itself as a leader in circular business practices within the North Sea Region.Friesland’s leadership in circular procurement through the Circ-NSR project showcases the potential of regional governance to drive sustainable transformation. By embedding circular principles into public purchasing, the initiative not only reduces environmental impacts but also supports the broader transition towards a resilient circular economy.