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This collection features a selection of case studies, based on the global *Circularity Gap Reports*, that can mitigate climate breakdown by reducing virgin material consumption, waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The latest **[Circularity Gap Report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023#download)** reveals that the global economy is now only 7.2% circular and outlines how circular solutions across four sectors can bring global planetary boundaries back within safe limits. 

In the six years of the *Circularity Gap Report*, the global economy has extracted and used unprecedented amounts of materials. The first edition of the *Report *in 2018 found that global circularity was 9.1% and it has decreased every year since—leaving a Circularity Gap of over 90%. If this trend continues, we will have to find more and better solutions to combat the negative effects of climate change. This is why we have identified case studies from across the globe—based on the needs of society and planetary health—that serve as real-world examples of the circular economy in action.

Circle Economy is a not-for-profit organisation working to accelerate the circular transition. Through the *Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative*, our mission is to deliver an annual global Circularity Metric that measures the state of the world economy and identifies key levers to transition to global circularity. With nature as our guide, we work alongside cross-sector stakeholders from academia, businesses, NGOs and governments to provide a powerful combination of practical and scalable interventions that transform circular opportunities into realities. 


To learn more about these interventions to accelerate the circular transition, read the latest [Circularity Gap Report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023#download), as well as previous editions of the global [Circularity Gap Reports](https://www.circularity-gap.world/global).

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Global Circularity Gap Report 2023

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Article / Report

Providing healthcare services, such as hospitals, medical facilities and patient care services, medical research and clinical trial services, pharmaceuticals and drug development, and genetic engineering services

Healthcare Services

Other

With an expanding, aging and, on average, more prosperous population, healthcare services are increasing globally. Buildings aside, typical resource groups include use of capital equipment such as X-ray machines, pharmaceuticals, hospital outfittings (beds), disposables and home care equipment.


Healthcare

- Repair, maintenance, and durable design of medical equipment 
- Substitute single-use medical items for reusable alternatives
- Virtual health care (ex. Doctor's appointments over Skype etc.)
- Medical equipment cascading
- Medical waste recycling

👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ Circular healthcare 

Industries

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Urban Opportunities

The framework consists of 21 complementary interventions, across six scenarios - one for each of the six societal needs we model. These interventions can mitigate climate impact by curbing GHG emissions

Note: interventions are currently focused on:
- 🏠 Housing 
- 🍎 Nutrition
- 🚗 Mobility
- 👚📺 Consumables
- 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ Healthcare
-  🔊 Communication

These 21 interventions are spread across six societal needs and wants, with a set of solutions. Within these solutions are strategies on ’how to get there'.  

The framework moves beyond incremental action and provides solutions that will require behavioral change (dietary shifts towards less meat consumption, for example) and the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies in the industry to mitigate emissions in hard-to-abate sectors (such as steel manufacturing). It illustrates how continued globalisation can benefit from the uptake of digital solutions. The combined interventions showcase the mitigation potential that begins where the current country pledges end; illustrating the additional impact our interventions can bring to the NDCs. In short, the interventions provide input for a more profound fundamental transformation than the more current pathways that make up the vast majority of NDCs. 

Together, the combined interventions can almost double the current global Circularity Metric of 8.6%, bringing it to 17%. 

This results in:
• Shrinking global material use and extraction by 28%. 
• Cutting global GHG emissions by 39%—fully closing the Emissions Gap as defined in our report and taking into account the updated NDCs.
• Allowing the world to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping at 1.5-degrees of warming by 2032.

*This framework was developed in the Circularity Gap Report 2021. Read more about it [here](https://www.circle-economy.com/resources/circularity-gap-report-2021)*






Global Circularity Gap Report

An intervention-based framework for nations and stakeholders working towards circular countries

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Government of the Netherlands

OUR MISSION IS TO ACCELERATE THE PRACTICAL AND SCALABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

At Circle Economy, we believe in a visionary future for our planet — one in which we do not have to compromise in order to achieve economic, social, and environmental prosperity. As an impact organisation, we connect and empower a global community to create the conditions for systemic transformation. With nature as our mentor, we work alongside businesses, cities and governments to identify opportunities to make the transition to the circular economy, and provide a powerful combination of practical and scalable solutions to turn these opportunities into reality.
‍
Our mission is to empower a global community of businesses, cities and governments to accelerate the transition to the circular economy through practical and scalable insights and solutions that address humanity’s greatest challenges.

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Circle Economy

Circle Economy researched how the introduction of a circular product label can enable more high-quality recycling for the Nederland Circulair initiative's Healthcare Waste initiative. The report includes a proposal for criteria that a circular product must meet, following an approach similar to Rank a Brand and Lansink's Ladder. Read more at:

Circular Product Labels Healthcare Waste

HEALTHCARE
 PLASTIC WASTE
 ANALYSIS OF 
OLVG HOSPITAL
 PLASTIC WASTE STREAMS
 Introduction
 As part of the Nederland Circulair
 initiative by the Dutch 
Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, a variety of 
organisations within the healthcare industry gathered to 
jointly identify ways to make hospitals more circular. To 
pursue this, a series of pilots were identified for further
 exploration. One of the pilot projects aims to create a 
mono
-stream flow of plastic within the healthcare space.
 In order to contribute to the overall objective of creating a 
mono
-stream of plastic packaging within hospitals, Circle 
Economy 
engaged in an 
analysis of
 typical
 plastic waste 
streams from OLVG hospital.
 Overview
 The analysis of the plastic bags was conducted at the 
facilities of ICOVA. The 9 bags of plastic waste from OLVG 
were sorted
, as shown in the image above,
 into 
nearly 65
 different
 categories and then weighed.
 This data was then analysed to answer questions 
regarding the composition and types of waste.
 Objectives
 The objectives of the analysis were to sort through 9 bags 
of plastic waste from OLVGÕs operating room and 
identify 
the contents to determine:
 ¥!Types of plastic products in the waste stream
 ¥!Composition and diversity of plastic types
 ¥!Most common plastic types
 Types of Plastic Products
 The 
types of plastic products found within the plastic 
waste 
streams 
are shown in Figure 1. The figure provides a 
breakdown of the different products based on their 
weights. 
 The 
largest category of plastic
 products found in the was
te bags from OLVG hospital is 
disposables packaging
 Ð making up over 50% of the total plasti
c waste. 
Within 
disposables packaging,
 Figure 1 p
rovides a deeper analysis 
of the 
nearly 15 different 
types of plastic 
used
 within 
disposables packagin
g. Although there were no markings 
to be found on the packaging that would indicate the types 
of plastic 
used, Circle Economy conducted additional 
research to try and determine the plastic types of the 
packaging. The largest estimated plastic type used in disposables 
packaging based on weight 
are Polypropylene
 (PP), followed by 
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PE
T), Mixed 
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
 with Coated Medical Grade 
Paper, and 
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
. Of these plastics, PET and HDPE are
 the most recyclable as 
they are the most commonly used and most commonly 
recycled plastics within society
1. While LDPE,
 PP, and PVC are also recyclable, they
 typically 
are not recycled or are 
down
-cycled. Mixtures of different plastics and other 
materials such as paper are not possible to recycle and are 
typically disposed of or incinerated (
see Appendix A). Bubble 
wrap from shipments and deliveries
 is the second 
biggest plastic product by weight
 Ð making up 25% of the 
total plastic waste 
- and is the biggest single mono
-plastic 
product 
- composed of only one material, Low Density 
Polyethylene (LDPE). This type of pl
astic when recycled is 
also typically down
-cycled.
 The remainder of plastic products within the
 OLVG waste 
stream
 are medical
 equipment 
Ð Trays, Plastic Medical 
Bottles
, Plastic Cups
, Gloves, Syringe and Accessories, 
Sterile Liquid Containers, 
Tubing and Accessories, 
Medical 
Bags, Eyeshields, etc.
 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"!#$%&'()&!*+!',-!./0*-1&
!!!"#$%&'()#$*+,$*-&.//)-&
01$*#+$2)*3
-&45678992$&:%;<
-&=5556>+*</*;92$*&?;@A;6+B6
-&CCD46E2/,$*
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-&J56?2;*"+@&G$)+@;2&7/""2$*&K&
(@@$**/%+$*
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-&=HD6!"#$%&'()*++,
-)./001+23
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-).001567'()*E<F#6"6F#?+$>'%,
-)/01!"#$%&'()*CA+2,
-)G/1567'()*+B8?CA+2,
-)D01!"#$%&'()*89$:'()5'(6;$<)
=%$(')+$>'%,
-).01567'()*+$>'%?+23?CA+2,
-).01567'()*89$:'()5'(6;$<)=%$(')
+$>'%?CA+2,
-).01@A+2
-)/1!"&"9H"
-)I1!"#$%&'
()'*+,-."/'0,-.&'1.%&,2-'3%42'5678
'!"!#$%&'()*%+*),(-.%/),(0%
12'3%4567
 Composition and Diversity of Plastic Types
 The composition of plastic types found within the OLVG 
plastic waste stream 
were 
identified based on the 
SPI: Plastics Industry Trade AssociationÕs 
Resin Identification 
Code (RIC) system
2, shown in Figure 2 below.
 Out of the plastics
 that
 were marked using these codes, 
and were able to be identified
, Low Density Polyethylene 
(LDPE) 
makes up nearly 25% of the total plastic waste 
stream and PET makes up nearly 10% of the total. 
Figure 3 
provides a breakdown of the plastic types that were 
identified.
 However, as Figure 3 
also 
shows, nearly 45% 
of the plastics 
were unmarked 
Ð this is due to 
the fact that there is no 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!2!#$%&'()&!3.4/&'1+!51%4-!6&&7)(%'(7.
!mandatory requirement for marking plastics, particularly 
for non
-containers such as films, bags, etc.
3 For these unmarked plastics, Circle Economy analysed the 
type of plastic that the products could be made out of 
based on physical characteristics and identification 
techniques.
 The breakdown of the potential plastic types 
for the unmarked plastics is also shown in Figure 3.
 It is also worth noting that the set of gloves that was 
disposed as plastic waste is actually made from nitrile 
rubber, adding to the lack of transparency r
egarding the 
specific types of plastic used in medical products and 
packaging. In addition, 
nearly 20% of the plastic waste was composed 
of mixed materials 
Ð either different kinds of plastic or 
plastic combined with other materials such as paper and 
aluminium. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!8!91('(&,!#$%&'()&!:-4-1%'(7.
;!<%'/1-=71>&
!!"#$%&'
9)':&-"
;'<=&;."3"/,."4;'>4=&'?:<>@'1A-.&2
'!!"#$%&'()
*"+,-./0#1
*"2.30#1
*"4++,.#15
*"!2,.##*"22.6('7($8"9:;;87
*"+,,.<=>%7?8@
*"-A,,.B(C8@
*"+!,,.<=?=DE=
*"F.!"#$%&'(%&)*#+',-#&%'
.#/%-012.3
4'5678.390:2.3
4'7678.390.3
4';668<+=>)?)=>0.#/%-
4'768<@A0.B!0..
4'C78..012.30D=EE%-
4'C78.A0<@A
4'C78.B!0:2.3
4'C68!"#$%&'(%&)*#+',-#&%'
.#/%-0:2.3
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:2.3
4';68..4';5668.B!
4'5F68.A4'7668.39
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4'C68A)+)*"?%
4';78!"#$%&'(%&)*#+',-#&%'
.#/%-
4';68."+I*"#$%&'J-#K$'
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4';68!"#$%&'B)'C%&,D=4E;'43'*+,-."/'FAG&-
'!"!#$%&'()*%+*),(-.%/),(0%
12'3%4567
 Conclusion
 From the analysis of 9 bags of plastic waste from OLVG, 
there are important insights 
based on the most common 
plastic products that are currently 
disposed
 as well as the 
composition of plastic types within those products
 First, focusing on the types of plastic used in packaging of 
medical disposables presents the gr
eatest opportunity for 
impact. Disposables packaging makes up over 50% of 
plastic waste, and is composed of nearly 15 different types 
of plastic materials. Shifting towards the use of a single 
plastic type 
is essential to enable greater recovery and 
recycl
ing of disposables packaging.
 PET and HDPE are the most suitable candidates for this 
shift towards singular plastic types, as they are the most 
commonly used and most commonly recycled plastics in 
society. 
PET is best suited for single
-use applications 
such as disposables packaging, while HDPE is known for being 
one of the safest types of plastic.
 Further analysis needs to be conducted to determine if PET 
and HDPE plastics meet the requirements for sterilisation, 
safety, preservation, etc. of medical eq
uipment used in the 
healthcare industry. This will require a joint effort between 
the packaging manufacturers, manufacturers of medical 
equipment, hospitals, and recyclers to ensure that the 
ideal plastic type is identified.
 Second
, to make the plastics used within hospitals easier 
to recover and recycle at the end of life, it is important to 
require the printing of plastic codes for products and 
packaging. Greater transparency regarding the types of 
plastic being used will ensure that recyclers can more 
easily process and recycle plastic waste.
 Lastly
, there is a need to work with 
manufacturers of 
plastic pro
ducts to minimise the amount of mixed plasti
c used. Products that combine different types of plastic or 
combine plastic with other materials make it more difficult 
to separate and recycle plastic waste.
 APPENDIX A
 !!!APPENDIX 
B !! APPENDIX 
C Category
!Detailed Description
!Plastic Type
!Estimated 
Number
!Estimated 
Weight (g)
!Adhesive
!White Adhesive Backing Sheet
!Unmarked (Polycoated Kraft Paper)
!15!5!Adhesive
!Yellow Adhesive Backing Sheet
!Unmarked (Polycoated
 Kraft Paper)
!25!5!Bubble Wrap
!Bubble Wrap
!LDPE
!100!2000!Disposables Packaging
!Surgical Glove Packaging
!Unmarked (Coated Medical Grade Paper)
!3!10!Disposables Packaging
!Steri
-Drape Packaging
!Unmarked (LDPE)
!2!10!Disposables Packaging
!Transparent 
Plastic Bags
!Unmarked (LDPE)
!10!25!Disposables Packaging
!Catheter Packaging
!Mixed (Paper/PET/LDPE)
!3!10!Disposables Packaging
!Chloorhexidine Digluconaat Packaging
!Unmarked (HDPE)
!1!5!Disposables Packaging
!Colour
 Sterile Film
!Mixed (PET/PE)
!20!100!Disposables Packaging
!Translucent Sterile Bag
!Unmarked (PP)
!50!1500!Disposables Packaging
!Biogel Brand Gloves Pack
!Mixed (PET/LDPE)
!100!500!Disposables Packaging
!Paper Backed Plastic Bags
!Mixed (Coated Medical Grade Paper/HDPE)
!30!700!Disposables 
Packaging
!Large Adhesive Translucent Plastic Bag
!Unmarked (HDPE)
!20!175!Disposables Packaging
!Big Case Back Table Cover Packaging
!Mixed (Coated Medical Grade Paper/LDPE)
!2!10!Disposables Packaging
!3M Tegaderm Film Packaging
!Mixed (Coated Medical Grade 
Paper/HDPE)
!1!5!Disposables Packaging
!Klinion Soft Nitrile Examination Glove 
Packaging
!Mixed (PET/LDPE)
!1!5!Disposables Packaging
!Hard Plastic Packaging
!Unmarked (PVC)
!6!550!Disposables Packaging
!Hard Plastic Blister Packaging
!Mixed (PVC/LDPE)
!4!20!Disposables Packaging
!Vicryl Polyglactin 910 Packaging
!Mixed (Aluminium/Paper)
!6!50!Disposables Packaging
!Needle Overwrap
!Unmarked (LDPE)
!6!10!Disposables Packaging
!Plastic Packaging Material
!Unknown
!1!3!Disposables Packaging
!Flexible Plastic Blister 
Packaging
!Unmarked (HDPE)
!3!10!Disposables Packaging
!Transparent Plastic Overwrap
!Unmarked (HDPE)
!3!10!Disposables Packaging
!Transparent Plastic Bags
!Unmarked (HDPE)
!5!20!Disposables Packaging
!Hard Plastic Blister Packaging
!PET
!5!750!Disposables 
Packaging
!Plastic Packaging Material
!HDPE
!1!5!Eyeshield & Lenses
!Euroguard Eyeshield
!Unmarked (PET)
!3!10!Food Packaging
!Food Plastic
!Unknown
!3!5!Food Packaging
!Becel Margarine Portion Packaging
!Unmarked (7 plastic)
!2!5!Gloves
!Klinion
 Soft Nitrile Examination Gloves
!Nitrile Rubber
!2!100!Medical Bag
!Perforated Plastic Bag
!Unmarked (LDPE)
!15!100!Medical Bag
!Ziplock Bags
!LDPE
!3!10!Medical Bag
!Adhesive Lab Bag
!Unmarked (PP)
!5!20!Medical Bag
!Translucent Plastic Bags
!Unmarked (LDPE)
!20!25!Medical Bag
!Blue Lab Bag
!Unmarked (PP)
!15!25!Medical Bag
!Small Specimen Bags
!Unmarked (PP)
!3!10!Plastic Cups
!White Disposable Plastic Cup
!Unmarked (PP)
!5!50!Plastic Cups
!Plastic Cups
!PP!2!10!Plastic Medical Bottles 
& Accessories
!Assorted Plastic 
Caps
!Unmarked (PP)
!6!20!Plastic Medical Bottles 
& Accessories
!Plastic Lids
!Unmarked (PVC)
!4!10!Plastic Medical Bottles 
& Accessories
!Plastic Bottles
!Unmarked (PET)
!6!275!Plastic Medical Bottles 
& Accessories
!Plastic Container Holder
!PP!1!15!Sterile 
Liquid Container
!Sterile Inhalation Water Pack
!Unmarked (PP)
!1!25!Sterile Liquid Container
!Ringerlactaat Flexible Bag
!7 Plastic
!6!100!Sterile Liquid Container
!Sterile Water for Injection Mini
-Plasco
!LDPE
!6!50!Sterile Liquid Container
!Caps for Mini
-Plasco
!LDPE
!17!50!Syringe & Accessories
!Syringe
!Mixed (PP/HDPE/Rubber)
!3!25!Syringe & Accessories
!Needle Caps
!Unmarked (PP)
!9!50!Tray
!Plastic Tray
!Unmarked (PS)
!1!100!Tray
!Blue Plastic Tray
!Unmarked (PS)
!4!400!Tubing & Accessories
!Dialysis Tubing
!Unmarked (PVC)
!10!100!Tubing & Accessories
!Dialysis Tubing Connectors
!Mixed (PS/ABS)
!5!25!Tubing & Accessories
!Plastic Tube Clamps
!Unmarked (7 Plastic)
!2!10!Tubing & Accessories
!Plastic Tube Clamps
!Unmarked (7 Plastic)
!2!5!Tubing & Accessories
!Hard 
Plastic Tube
!Unmarked (PVC)
!2!10!Tubing & Accessories
!Plastic Tube Spiral Luer Adapters
!Mixed (ABS/PVC/PP)
!10!25!Tubing & Accessories
!Plastic Connector Tubes
!Unmarked (PVC)
!2!10!Tubing & Accessories
!Corrugated Tubing
!Unmarked (LDPE)
!1!5!Tubing & 
Accessories
!Pipe Fittings
!Unmarked (PVC)
!5!25!Tubing & Accessories
!Plastic Tab
!7 Plastic
!1!3!Tubing & Accessories
!Venoject Luer Adapter
!PP!7!30!Tubing & Accessories
!Yellow Plastic Tubes
!Unmarked (PVC)
!9!20!Tubing & Accessories
!Parts of Clear Plastic 
Tubes!Unmarked (PVC)
!8!15!Tubing & Accessories
!Parts of Translucent Plastic Tubes
!Unmarked (Silicone)
!3!15!!

Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment

As part of the Nederland Circulair initiative by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, a variety of organisations within the healthcare industry gathered to jointly identify ways to make hospitals more circular. To pursue this, a series of pilots were identified for further exploration. One of the pilot projects aims to create a mono-stream flow of plastic within the healthcare space. In order to contribute to the overall objective of creating a mono-stream of plastic packaging within hospitals, Circle Economy engaged in an analysis of typical plastic waste streams from OLVG hospital. Read more at:

Healthcare Plastic Waste

Business case

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

Reduced use of virgin materials and/or an increase of the use of secondary and bio-based materials

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

Reduced use and withdrawal of water and rate of recycling and reuse of water

Save Water (SDG6)

Reduced use of fossil fuel energy sources and/or increased use of renewable energy

Reduce Energy Consumption

Contributing to the improvement of biodiversity including species diversity, total number of protected species, and ecosystem health

Biodiversity

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

Agri/Food

Producing transporation equipment and providing services for thetransportation of goods and people

Transportation and Logistics

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


Construction and Infrastructure

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

Providing electricity and gas services, including traditional and renewable energy generation, natural and manufactured gas and operating gas networks

Energy Utilities and Independent Power Producers

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

Water and Sewage

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

Engaging in discussions with industry stakeholders to share circular economy best practices and push the industry towards greater circularity

Guidance, dialogue with industry stakeholders

Engaging in discussions with government bodies and policymakers to push for regulations that support the circular economy

Advocacy for circular economy policy

Participating in government programmes that support and advance the circular economy

Government programmes

Impacts

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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


Een circulair gebouw wordt ontworpen, ontwikkeld, beheerd en gebruikt volgens het systeem van de circulaire economie. Het verminderen van grondstofgebruik en maximalisering van hergebruik zijn centrale aspecten. Partijen die deelnemen aan de Green Deal 178: Circulaire Gebouwen willen zo min mogelijk nieuwe grondstoffen gebruiken én producten en grondstoffen zo lang mogelijk (hoogwaardig) in de keten houden. Daarnaast willen ze circulaire aspecten meetbaar en duidelijk maken door middel van een gebouwpaspoort.
Beoogd resultaat
Partijen willen een gebouwpaspoort realiseren. Daarbij is de circulaire economie het uitgangspunt. In drie fasen geven zij de Green Deal gestalte: Fase 1: start januari 2015. -Onderzoeken, inventariseren, selecteren en bepalen welke gebouwkenmerken bepalend zijn voor de circulariteit van een gebouw. -Bepalen hoe de sociale, economische en ecologische waarden vastgelegd worden. -Ontwerpen en ontwikkelen van een gebouwpaspoort. Fase 2: start maart 2015 tot begin 2016. -Uitvoeren van pilots. -Bepalen hoe de gebouwkenmerken en circulaire waarde worden vervat in het gebouwpaspoort. Fase 3: start begin 2016. -Op basis van de pilots worden referentiewaarden herleid. Deze worden gebruikt voor een benchmark en waardering van de mate van circulariteit van een gebouw.


Rijksoverheid

The Green Deal approach in the Netherlands is an accessible way for companies, stakeholder organizations, local and regional government, and other interest groups to work with the national government on green growth and social issues. The aim is to remove barriers in order to help sustainable initiatives get off the ground and to accelerate this process where possible. The central government plays a key role in this area. Initiatives often start from the bottom up, in response to societal dynamics. Green Deals cover nine themes: energy, bio- based economy, mobility, water, food, biodiversity, resources, construction and climate. Green Deal C-178 refers to a deal for circular buildings.

Green Deal Approach

Policy case

Impact on increased knowledge and understanding as a result of the case study

Increase Awareness

Impact on the quantity or quality of jobs, and shifts in the labour market

Jobs

Efficiency gains on operations or transactions either through cultural or technological shifts

Productivity

Impact on the ease of innovation, and facilitating uptake of innovations

Innovation

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)

Producing and providing business and consumer goods and services

Goods and Services

Producing basic and specialty chemicals, inks, agricultural chemical such as fertilisers and pesticides, plastics including packaging, and rubber

Chemical and Plastic

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

Use waste as a resource

Engage internally to guide employees and facilitate greater knowledge sharing between internal divisions

Internal collaboration

Enacting measures that optimise energy use

Energy efficiency

Processing waste streams into fuels such as biogas, biofuels, pellets, etc.

Processing waste into fuel

Designing products so they use as little materials, water, energy, etc. as possible during use

Design for resource efficiency

Designing products of multiple parts that can be easily exchanged

Design for modularity

Designing products to be reused for the same or different purposes in multiple lifecycles

Design for reuse

Roadmaps and strategies and targets

 Regulation

Legislation

'Incentivise' sends market signals and support to businesses, citizens and governments to promote certain activities.

Incentivise

A framework of policy instruments that enabled and encourage the transition to the circular economy

Policies

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A framework of policy instruments that enable and stimulate the transition to the circular economy

The Government-wide programme for a Circular Economy is aimed at developing a circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050. 
Its ambition is to realise, together with a variety of stakeholders, an (interim) objective of a 50% reduction in the use of primary raw materials (minerals, fossil and metals) by 2030. 
It has as main priorities: Biomass and food, plastics, the manufacturing industry, construction sector and consumer goods. 


         
   Global demand for raw materials for things like food, electrical goods and clothes is increasing sharply. Central government is therefore working with other public authorities, knowledge institutions and environmental organisations, industry, trade unions, financial institutions and other civil-society organisations to find smarter and more efficient ways of using raw materials. The goal is for the Dutch economy to be completely circular by 2050. The government has set out three goals aimed at making the Dutch economy circular as quickly as possible:  Ensure production processes use raw materials more efficiently, so that fewer are needed. When new raw materials are needed, use sustainably produced renewable (inexhaustible) and widely available raw materials, like biomass – raw material made of plants, trees and food waste. This will make the Netherlands less dependent on fossil fuel resources, and it is better for the environment. Develop new production methods and design new products to be circular.  
       The government-wide programme for a Circular Dutch Economy by 2050 (in Dutch) outlines how we can transform our economy into a sustainable, fully circular economy by 2050. The programme describes what we will need to do to ensure we use raw materials, products and services in a smarter and more efficient way.    In January 2017 in The Hague, 180 parties signed the Raw Materials Agreement (in Dutch), which sets out what is to be done to ensure that the Dutch economy can run on renewable resources. The agreement was signed by parties from both government and industry. 
Sharon Dijksma, State Secretary for Infrastructure and the Environment at the time: ‘We have to wean ourselves off our disposable lifestyle and start thinking differently about raw materials and waste. It has to be clear at the design stage how the raw materials in a product can be reused. This agreement provides the basis for a recycling economy, and it will be the first step towards tackling the squandering of raw materials and the exhaustion of our planet.’
    The government and the signatories to the Raw Materials Agreement drew up five transition agendas, focusing on five sectors and value chains that are important to the economy but also have a high environmental burden. The agendas set out how the sector in question can become circular by 2050, and what actions need to be taken. Transition agendas have been set up for these sectors and value chains:  Biomass and food (in Dutch) Biomass is a raw material for the animal feed, chemicals, transport fuel and energy industries. It can be used to make many sectors greener and reduce carbon emissions. Plastics (in Dutch) Plastics are everywhere. They are useful, but they damage the environment, in the form of plastic soup, plastic litter and microplastics in water, and impact on the climate. The government, industry and environmental organisations have committed to plans to tackle plastic waste in the Plastics Pact. Manufacturing industry (in Dutch) The manufacturing industry uses metals and other materials to make new products. These production processes are often environmentally harmful. Circular design based on the high-grade sustainable reuse of materials is needed. Construction (in Dutch) The construction sector accounts for 50% of raw materials consumption in the Netherlands. A large proportion of our waste comes from demolition. We need to step up the pace of innovations (such as circular and modular construction) in order to make our living environment more sustainable. Consumer goods (in Dutch) Consumer goods are packaged goods that we all use, from disposable cups to clothes, and from soft drinks to vacuum cleaners. The goal is to reuse raw materials and packaging rather than wasting them.
    The government now presents its Circular Economy Implementation Programme (in Dutch), which translates the five transition agendas into concrete actions and projects to be put into effect between 2019 and 2023. Examples from the implementation programme include:  Natural adhesive that gives trees their rigidity, which is removed from pulp during the cardboard and paper production process, can be used in future to produce bio-asphalt. By 2025 75% of new mattresses must be made of components that are easily separated and can be repurposed. Government and industry will work together to reduce plastic waste. They will also make other waste more readily reusable and recyclable. These efforts will take place under the Plastics Pact (in Dutch).   The Central Government Real Estate Agency and Rijkswaterstaat must make their operations circular by 2030. All government buildings constructed after 2018 must be energy neutral. As many recycled or recyclable materials and resources as possible will be used in the construction and redevelopment of real estate.
 The Implementation Programme will be updated regularly:  The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will organise an annual National Circular Economy Conference (in Dutch) at which stakeholders discuss progress with the circular economy. This might lead to adjustments to the Implementation Programme. Every two years the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) will publish a progress report. The government will update the Implementation Programme every five years.
    The first goal of the government-wide programme for a Circular Dutch Economy by 2050 is ambitious, but not impossible: the Netherlands must use 50% fewer primary resources (minerals, metals and fossil fuels) by 2030.    The Netherlands wants to have a circular economy by 2050 – a waste-free economy that runs entirely on reusable materials.    
International cooperation for a circular future To create a circular economy in the Netherlands, changes are needed in Europe and worldwide. This is because raw material supply chains and waste flows are global. And not all waste products or materials end up in the Netherlands or even Europe. Also, many businesses operate internationally. That’s why the government works with other countries as much as possible, in the European Union and also in the United Nations. The Netherlands is a member of the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), in which more than 40 countries, companies and international organisations work together.     Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management  
   

Netherlands

The Government-wide programme for a Circular Economy is aimed at developing a circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050. Its ambition is to realise, together with a variety of stakeholders, an (interim) objective of a 50% reduction in the use of primary raw materials (minerals, fossil and metals) by 2030. It has as main priority sectors: biomass and food, plastics, the manufacturing industry, construction sector and consumer goods

A Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050

Engage with the government on circular policies and programmes

Government collaboration

Public-private partnerships

         Interested? Ask us a question.   
     On this page you can download various documents for your own use. Documents from Chemport Europe, but also documents from companies, governments and knowledge institutions.  
      1. Chemport documents          Chemport Magazine  .pdf 5.6 MB Download             Chemport Industrieagenda (Dutch version)  .pdf 717.3 KB Download             Paper Intermediates Heeres (Dutch version)  .pdf 5.6 MB Download             Chemport Saccharide Agenda  .pdf 747.6 KB Download             Procesindustrie Agenda Drenthe (Dutch version)  .pdf 3.8 MB Download             Circular Plastics in the Chemport Region  .pdf 4.2 MB Download        2. Infographics          Chemport Ecosystem Infographic  .png 663.4 KB Download             Infographic intermediate chemicals  .jpg 188.4 KB Download             Overview Semi Finished Products And Markets in Emmen  .pdf 4.0 MB Download        3. Logo's          Chemport Europe Logo  .jpg 205.8 KB Download             Chemical Cluster Emmen  .jpg 53.3 KB Download             Chemical Cluster Emmen  .jpg 146.6 KB Download             Chemical Cluster Delfzijl  .png 8.3 KB Download             Chemical Cluster Delfzijl  .jpg 148.2 KB Download        4. Templates          Template PowerPoint  .pptx 6.0 MB Download        5. Product brochures companies          Product Brochure Twaron  .pdf 4.1 MB Download         
          All newsitems
    

Companies, government and knowledge institutes work together towards the shared ambition of being the first cluster in the Netherlands with zero CO2 emissions and minimum environmental impact. The entire Chemport Europe industry cluster will only use renewable energy and feedstocks by 2050.

Public-Private Partnership towards Zero Emissions Goal in the Netherlands

Scalability

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

'Inform' increases the overall levels of awareness and builds the necessary skills and knowledge around the circular economy to foster long-term change.

Inform

Data, knowledge & information sharing

Research and facilitate new technological developments to aid the transition to a circular economy.

Research and Development

Implement innovation programmes

'Manage' influences the use and function of physical and material elements within the urban environment. 

Manage

'Mobilise' sets the direction of and builds momentum towards long-term change, while also determining how this direction is determined and governed.

Mobilise

Govern the Transition

 Convene Towards Action

 Public Procurement

 Develop research, structure knowledge, encourage innovation networks and disseminate findings with integrity


Strengthen and advance knowledge

Redesign systems to lay the foundation for circular activities and enable the transition to a circular economy 

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Rethink

Use longer and more often by extending and intensifying use of existing resources, products, spaces and infrastructure

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Reuse

Do better with less by using and supporting infrastructure, processes and products that are designed to minimize material, water and energy use and waste generation from production to end of use


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Reduce

High-level changes to policy and practice (such as taxation systems, investment and procurement guidelines and criteria) that disincentivize activities that perpetuate linear economic systems, as well as vision-setting (goals, roadmaps) to catalyze
action on circularity across the city

Eliminate linear incentives and set goals and incentives for circularity

Incorporate extended use in project planning phases; create or update city policies to allow for extended use.

Design and regulate for extended use

Put enablers in place that allow circular businessesto grow, thrive and innovate (e.g. incubators, start-up funding, partnerships, innovation deals, business capacity building and testing groundsfor new business models).


Support circular and resource-efficient business innovations

Businesses

Governments

The Circular City Actions Framework provides urban changemakers with five complementary strategies they can use to start working towards a more circular system. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete strategic directions and showcase the desired outcomes of each strategy. 
The framework consists of five complementary **strategies**, under which **sub-strategies** provide further detail. Finally, each sub-strategy consists of a diversity of tangible **solutions** which are framed in relation to key thematic areas. 

Note: solutions are currently focused on:
- 🍏 **Food systems**
- 🏢  **Built environment**
- 👕📱  **Consumer goods**
- ⚡ **Energy Systems**
- 🚌 **Mobility Systems**
- 💧 **Water Systems**

More thematic areas are coming soon...

'Click through each of the five strategy cards below to explore the framework and circular economy case studies in more depth!'



This framework was developed in collaboration with ICLEI, Metabolic and Ellen MacArthur Foundation with support from the MAVA Foundation. Read more about it [here]( https://circulars.iclei.org/action-framework/). 



Circular City Actions Framework

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An action-based framework for local governments working towards circular cities

In 2013, the Dutch Government established the Circular Procurement Green Deal to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. This programme brought together 45 public and private parties, and tasked each of them with carrying out two circular procurement initiatives in order to increase experience, share insights, and create a pool of good practice. Over three years, 80 circular procurement pilots were conducted and their lessons shared. The success of this programme resulted in the Dutch Government placing special emphasis on circular procurement and the consideration of life-cycle costs in its 2016 Roadmap to a Circular Economy. Moreover, it included an aim to raise the proportion of circular procurement to 10% by 2020.