Mr. Martin

Circular Economy Forum

Understanding
Circular Economy

Martin
van Nieuwenhoven

INDO WASTE 2017
12 July 2017

Key points

WHY Circular Economy (CE) is needed: the importance to move from
a linear towards a circular economy
The CONCEPT of CE : model and principles
WHAT is needed : essential building blocks for CE
HOW to get there: ‘all hands on deck’

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WHY CE is needed ?

Solve waste problems ?

The environmental and social impact of an increasing waste problem can be
observed everywhere and is affecting us stronger every day.
But the linear economy cannot be blamed for this, it is often
the result of an ineffective waste policy and/or weak law
enforcement and/or lacking finances to open alternative ways.

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SWM sufficient for
achieving ‘zero’ landfilling

But not circular when still
40% material is lost by WtE


Municipal solid waste management

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Netherlands

Working towards CE

Management
scale

International
global
National

Regional

Municipal


Public health
Private collectors for
metal scrap, textiles,
food remains, paper,
coal, ashes

Environmental
Protection, focus
on leachate, gas
control, flue gas
cleaning

Diversion
Professionalizing,
Recycling
Institutional &
responsibility issues,
EPR (Extended Producer
Responsibility) systems

in place, landfill bans &
taxes

Circular economy,
SDG’s / SCP
International
cooperation
Chain approach,
Resource & product policy,
Closing the loop

Circular economy

Integrated Waste
Policy

Control &
Technical fix

Focus on

Collection
National Waste
Management Plan

1975

1875

1990

2013

II

I
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III

WHY CE is needed ?


Global challenges with
fast growing demands

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Global challanges

Sustainable sourcing

Low economic importance / low supply risk
High economic importance / low supply risk
High economic importance / high supply risk

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Global challanges


Improving recycling

Recycling rates

Source: UNEP

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Global challanges

Reduce food losses

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Global targets

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Why CE is needed ?

Because we need a more sustainable economy
for reaching these SDG’s.

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The concept of CE
Principles:
1. Sustainable ------- -sourcing

------------------------>

2. Closing ----------- -->
the loops

3. Minimise material

losses (low WtE,
no landfilling)

------------------------------->

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Separate collection
of biological
materials

WHAT we need for CE

Waste and circular policy

‘essential building blocks’

framework / enforcement


Circular
product policy

Waste
policy

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Essential building blocks:

Traditionally effective
SWM implementation tools

Knowledge sharing
Pay as you throw

Use of secondary
raw material
Extended Producer
responsibility


Producer

Consumer

Deposit return
systems
Awareness

Optimization of logistics

Source separation
and collection (bio)

Municipality
Government

Inter municipal cooperation
Landfill/WtE taxes
Clear and feasible targets
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Essential building block:

Additional circular design,
services and markets

Products are circular designed and produced
• Products for multiple life cycles (e.g. circular buildings /
BAM+Turntoo)
• Products with more updating options (e.g. modular cell phone
/Fairphone)
• Products with take back guarantee of product, its components
and/or materials for a next life cycle (deposit fee systems)
• Services instead of products (e.g. leasing or light per LUX / Philips)
Retain high value during user phase and positive value at every
end-of life phase
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Essential building block:

circular procurement

New procurement criteria:
• Reduction of materials (prevention)
• Application of renewable materials (renewables)
• Avoiding conflicting material (closing the loop)
• Application of recyclable materials (closing the loop)
• Application of durable materials (life time expansion)
• Service instead of product purchase (life time expansion)
• Take back after lifetime (producers responsibility)
• Re-usable products (life time expansion)

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HOW to get there
‘Essential steps’:

Socio-economic transition
‘all hands on deck’
Creating networks and
cooperation platform, PPP’s
Supporting front runners
Training professionals
Educate children

Meeting of business sector, professionals, researchers,
NGO’s and local, regional and national authorites

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Essential steps:

savings

jobs

New business opportunties
Present the benefits

CO2

resources

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land/water

Essential steps:

Start programming

• 100% circular economy by 2050
• 50%
-

less use of raw materials by 2030
Reduction
Recycled
Biobased
Sustainable sourced

• Resource agreement with industry (12/16)
• Transition action plan for 5 priority sectors
and materials (7/17)

https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-infrastructure-and-the-environment/documents/policynotes/2016/09/14/a-circular-economy-in-the-netherlands-by-2050
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Transition agenda for 5 priority sectors
1. Biomass and food
2. Plastics
3. Manufacturing industry
4. Construction sector
5. Consumer goods

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9 November 2016

Government supports through:
• Dynamic legislation and regulations
• Smart market incentives
• Funding
• Knowledge and innovation
• (Inter)national cooperation
• Cooperation in value chains
• Circular behaviour and procurement
• Monitoring the transition process and results

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9 November 2016

Local/regional CE plans

Buildings use 40% of
global energy

Materials: 75% of
companies fear
negative
consequences from
resource scarcity

Services: 15% of Dutch
GDP goes to healthcare .
In 2040 this is might be >
30%

Transport: 27% of all
truck rides are empty

Water: > 3 B litres of
drinking water is leaking
away annually

Food: we throw away
74 kilo’s of food a
person/y
Mobility: road congestion
costs for Europe are 110
B/y

Urban Issues illustrated in Amsterdam (NL)
UN SG Ban Ki Moon: Our struggle for global sustainability will be won or lost in cities”
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We hope our cooperation with the Indonesian government
will inspire and support Indonesia to develop
towards a Circular Economy

Thank you for your attention
Martin van Nieuwenhoven
martin.van.nieuwenhoven@rws.nl

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