Circular Economy Forum

Understanding
Circular Economy

Martin INDO WASTE 2017

van Nieuwenhoven
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 But not circular when still
achieving zero landfilling 40% material is lost by WtE

Municipal solid waste management

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 Netherlands Working towards CE
Circular economy,
SDGs / SCP
Diversion International
Professionalizing, cooperation
Management Recycling Chain approach,
scale Institutional & Resource & product policy,
responsibility issues, Closing the loop
EPR (Extended Producer
Responsibility) systems
International in place, landfill bans & Circular economy
Environmental taxes
global Protection, focus
on leachate, gas
Integrated Waste
National control, flue gas
Public health cleaning Policy
Private collectors for
metal scrap, textiles,
food remains, paper, Control &
Regional
coal, ashes Technical fix

Focus on
Municipal
Collection
National Waste
Management Plan

1875 1975 1990 2013

I II III
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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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18 April 2013
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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 SDGs.

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The concept of CE

Principles:

1. Sustainable ------- -- ------------------------>

sourcing

2. Closing ----------- -->

the loops

3. Minimise material ------------------------------->

Separate collection
losses (low WtE, of biological
no landfilling) materials

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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
Deposit return
Extended Producer Producer Consumer systems
responsibility
Awareness

Source separation
Municipality
and collection (bio)
Optimization of logistics 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 Socio-economic transition
Essential steps: all hands on deck

Creating networks and

cooperation platform, PPPs
Supporting front runners
Training professionals
Educate children

Meeting of business sector, professionals, researchers,

NGOs and local, regional and national authorites

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Essential steps: New business opportunties
Present the benefits

savings jobs CO2 resources land/water

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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/policy-
notes/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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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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Local/regional CE plans

Buildings use 40% of Materials: 75% of

global energy companies fear
negative
consequences from
resource scarcity

Services: 15% of Dutch

Transport: 27% of all
GDP goes to healthcare .
truck rides are empty
In 2040 this is might be >
30%

Water: > 3 B litres of

Food: we throw away
drinking water is leaking
74 kilos of food a
away annually
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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