Today a broad coalition of Dutch companies, research institutes and organisations, including Circle Economy, appeal to the Dutch government to prioritise the SDGs within the upcoming government coalition agreement. All signatories, now already including 118 organisations, appeal to the current coalition negotiator Edith Schippers, to make sure that policy is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which the Netherlands has committed in 2015: “We - a coalition of companies and social enterprises - cannot stress the importance of the SDGs more as a tool to create a sustainable society now and for future generations. They are vital for our global society, but also enable a healthy and resilient Dutch Economy.After the Dutch elections in May, the appointed coalition negotiator Edith Schippers is meeting with all elected political parties to explore the common ground in the proposed election programme's. The coalition of Dutch companies and organisation is now appealing to negotiator Edith Schippers, to steer towards a government that prioritises sustainable policy and centralises our commitment to achieve the SDGs. By doing so, a more balanced world will be made more tangible - prioritising issues as the transition to renewable energy, (over) production and consumption, poverty, hunger, health, inequality and climate change on a local, national and global level. The signatories are appealing the new government to:
Read more about the participating organisations, the appeal to the Dutch Coalition Negotiator and how to join here (dutch).
We are very proud to welcome Brightloops, a true trailblazer in circular textiles, to our Circle Membership. Brightloops is working to produce circular yarn, felt and knitwear from 100% recycled old sweaters. Their products, sold under the label Loop.alife, prove that excess post-consumer garments can be transformed into beautifully designed, high value products.So, what does it mean for Brightloops to be ‘truly circular’? It means using post-consumer local waste as a source of input, sorting post-consumer excess by material and color to avoid unnecessary dyeing (saving chemicals, water and energy), and mechanically recycling this excess. They practice full transparency throughout all business practices, focus on local production and new developments within Europe, and not only have a zero waste policy but practice it through continual product development.
What is the next step for the textile recycling industry?Making more ‘closed loop fashion production’ circles. We are convinced we should not transport waste streams over the globe but should find closer circles that have the right economy of scale. This means more - new and existing - production facilities working closer together within the Netherlands/Europe to close the textile loop. This leads to ‘local’ knowledge creation, new designs (for recycling) and product development, which is to sustainably use our mountain of post consumer textile.What areas need further development and support?We need more medium-scale production facilities; from high value fibering, yarn development and knitting and weaving to produce high value end products of recycled yarn.Can companies not involved in the circular economy adopt the technology you use?Yes, Brightloops also helps other textile companies to produce 100% recycled knitwear or felt for their collection. We produce custom made yarn and ready to wear knitwear from their own waste streams using their own label. Anyone who is interested can contact us.What are your recommendations to further close the loop and what is needed for recycled fibers to be incorporated into mass-marketed garments?More marketing, sales support and demand for sustainable fashion. We need retailers and online portals that actively help and support the sustainable brands that make beautiful products in the first place and also have a good story that make you proud to wear it.
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Our member community is an active group of businesses and institutions that have a shared ambition to make the circular economy a reality. As a member you will gain access to a powerful global network of change makers, thought leaders, peers, and stakeholders that share in our ambition to make the circular economy a reality.
Are you a changemaker? Learn more about our global network of innovators by clicking the link below.
[cta link="http://www.circle-economy.com/membership/" ]I'm a changemaker![/cta]
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A transition to the circular economy is essential to fight climate change, resource depletion and achieve sustainable growth. To ensure that policymakers and governments know how and where to implement the circular economy effectively, there is a great need for practical tools to measure it.Aimed at defining, identifying and quantifying employment opportunities that are needed in the circular economy, Circle Economy and the Erasmus Research Institute for Happiness Economics (Ehero) have developed a standardised and replicable methodology that measures circular employment in cities around the world. This opens up the possibility of monitoring circular employment and therefore empowers cities and governments to effectively invest in the jobs of the future.
“Implementing the circular economy is as much about people as it is about resources and sustainability” - Annerieke Douma, Director Programme and Business Development
The initial findings of this joint research show that 8.1% of all jobs in the Netherlands are currently circular. Once identified, the circular jobs were categorised according to the seven key elements of the circular economy, showing that a large majority are focused on ‘incorporating digital technology’ and ‘preserving and extending what’s already made’. In the past fifteen years, activities that involve 'repair & maintenance' have remained stable in numbers, with the 'incorporation of digital technologies' becoming an up and coming job provider. This points to the importance of knowledge-intensive industries and innovation within the Dutch economy.
To learn more about how circular jobs are defined, how they are distributed throughout the Netherlands and the method behind how they are quantified, download the report.
[cta link="http://www.circle-economy.com/Circular-Jobs" ]Download the report[/cta]
Complicated derivatives, excessive bonuses, amoral incentives, irresponsible loans and, excessive leverage and asset bubbles are continually highlighted as issues our current financial system faces. However, the real fundamental financial issue of today is the severe imbalance between the financial world and the real world in which we live in. The real world, in which value is created through the use of precious resources and care is not taken to preserve them. This imbalance is at the root of the problem, but how can we address it?Our financial system is responsible for the efficient allocation of money and moving it from points of excess to points of need. But money has become so much more than a simple oil that allows the economic machine to run smoothly. Money deeply affects our behaviour as individuals and as a collective society. It gives us a feeling of individual freedom, yet anchors our dependency on others across the world. Additionally, we use it to express the value of everything: products - of course - but also intangible things such as health, wealth, safety, political power and, human lives. With that in mind, can we really trust our current financial system to facilitate the well-being of the real world?To answer these questions we need to understand what money is. To most people, the nature of money and the world of finance is a mystery, despite the fact that we use it for everything we do and in doing so, influence its function. A survey by Motivaction International and the Sustainable Finance Lab revealed that among 23,000 people, in 20 countries, less than 20% of the respondents were aware of the fact that commercial banks create more than 95% of the money in circulation.This money comes into existence in the process of interest-bearing credit (and debt) creation and relies upon an ever-expanding economic system, that cannot be sustained by the finite system we call earth. Financial system innovation is, therefore, a critical factor and important enabler to create a balance between the financial world and the real world. The money system is a social construct (we humans invented it) and therefore it can be re-designed to include incentives that influence more desirable outcomes. These systems can be complementary to our current monetary realm and create a more diverse and resilient financial system. With financial technology innovations, such as blockchain, it is possible to create these incentives and nurture economic value at the local level by preventing wealth from ‘leaking away’. It provides new social institutions for collaborative consumption and ‘product service systems’, and can facilitate resource-sharing and reuse markets for unwanted goods. But pro-environmental behaviour can also directly be addressed, for example, rewarding citizens who participate in recycling programmes or the development of new green technologies could be rewarded, through for example a cryptocurrency based on renewable energy.An example of such a system is the WASTED Reward System, which aims to incentivise citizens to recycle and create awareness regarding plastic waste in Amsterdam Noord. Plastic waste of participating households is tracked through QR codes and linked to their personal account. For every 5 bags of plastic they recycle, they are rewarded with 5 coins, which can be spent at local shops and restaurants. For example, 5 full bags of plastic are worth a 3-course meal! This programme not only enhances local economic activity but also increases awareness of plastic consumption and results in a cleaner neighbourhood. Currently, the scaling opportunities for such a programme are limited due to the need for manual operations (i.e. a physical currency that has to be collected and distributed). Therefore a digital version of the currency based on blockchain technology is being developed together with Circle Economy. This digital currency will also be able to be used in webshops and make it easier to monitor and evaluate its use. At Circle Economy, we embrace this challenge and together with Sustainable Finance Lab, we aim to leverage financial innovation to enable the circular economy.
[cta link="mailto:elisa@circle-economy.com" ]Get in touch[/cta]
The Dutch province of North-Holland has chosen to strive for a circular economy.By applying smart strategies that help increase the reuse of resources within company conglomerates, the demand for virgin resources will decrease, energy savings will be achieved and jobs will be created. North-Holland wants to transition to a circular economy in order to prepare the province for a sustainable future, while at the same time creating a healthy economic and liveable climate. To make this ambitious transition a reality, the province has asked the social enterprise, Circle Economy, to identify and visualise the opportunities within North-Holland by completing a Circle Regional Scan. Upon completion of the scan, Circle Economy identified 58 practical, circular opportunities for the province and visualised them through tangible examples.
Using tomato plant waste to create paper? This is actually possible. This example shows how rest materials from one sector can be used as a resource by another sector.The opportunity map created by Circle Economy focuses on seven clusters within the province that represent the largest economical value and offer the most employment. These seven pivotal clusters identified in North Holland (tourism, logistics, road construction, hospitals, horticulture & seeds, and food processing & retail) provide 310.000 jobs and represent an economic value of 22 billion euro. The total material consumption in all of these clusters combined is a staggering 12 million tonnes annually, the vast majority of which is not used to the fullest extent at the end of its life-cycles. By applying circular strategies within these major, material consuming clusters, the biggest economical and ecological impact can be made.
“The transition towards a circular economy provides huge opportunities for the economic development of companies within North-Holland. The opportunity map provides us with a very comprehensive overview as to where these opportunities lie. In the coming period we will connect with the industry in our province to verify what their specific needs are and how we can be an enabler for them. Combining this information will determine where the province will focus its energy in the first half of 2017”
- Jack van der Hoek - Province Deputy of North Holland
nbsp;Implementing Circular Projects
The mobility sector produces 2,800 tonnes of waste yearly in the form of run down cars and discarded car parts like car tires. Worldwide more that 1.5 billion tires are removed from vehicles every year, creating around 13.5 million tonnes of solid waste. More than half of these tires are burned or landfilled. A circular answer to this issue could be to recover carbon black from these old tires, instead of burning them to produce crude oil. The amount of CO₂ emissions saved by this process will contribute to achieving the Paris Climate Agreements.
“Implementing the circular economy is not just about creating a sustainable future, but about creating jobs and rejuvenating industries. It brings business opportunities in the form of new chain collaborations and material savings”
- Jurn de Winter - Project Manager Circle Cities Programme
Tourism also plays a vital part in the economy of North-Holland. The sector is responsible for some of the largest waste streams of the province with 7,000 tonnes of food being wasted on a yearly basis, matching the yearly food consumption of 100,000 people. One of the solutions Circle Economy suggests is to find ways to consume food that is now considered waste. A restaurant chain in Amsterdam uses food that, due to strict regulations, cannot be sold in supermarkets, but is still completely edible, as a source for their meals. This restaurant in Amsterdam proves that per restaurant they can save around one ton of food from ending up in waste bins every week.
These examples highlight just two of the 58 circular opportunities that the province could implement together with local businesses.
[cta link="http://www.circle-economy.com/Circular-North-Holland" ]Explore all 58 Circular Opportunities[/cta]nbsp; nbsp;
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The Circle Cities Programme is a global platform through which cities, regions and local businesses can make the transition towards the circular economy. By joining the programme, members gain access to Circle Economy’s tools, knowledge and support to implement practical and scalable circular solutions.
Contact us to learn more about how your city or region can become a member of the Circle Cities community!
[cta link="mailto:jurn@circle-economy.com" ]Contact us[/cta]
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During this year’s Goed Geld Gala on 6 February National Postcode Lottery announced its continued support for Circle Economy with a 1 million Euro grant. Thanks to the organisations funding in recent years, Circle Economy has built a solid foundation for a truly impactful organisation and with their continued support we will be able to deliver on our mission to accelerate the practical and scalable implementation of the circular economy. Since the organisation’s founding, Circle Economy has focused on developing practical and scalable solutions for the circular economy. We work with stakeholders throughout value chains, in key sectors, like textiles and construction, to identify and overcome system leaks. From cities to regions, we create actionable implementation plans to guide the transition and have collaborated with the financial sector to create new, financially sound business models.With an open-source ethos at the heart of our organisation, Circle Economy focusses on developing scalable services that help businesses, governments and citizens bring circularity into practice, on a global level. Now as we look to the future, we believe that In order to have successful, on the ground, implementation of the circular economy we need to digitise, scale and distribute our solutions worldwide.. We would like to extend our gratitude to the National Postcode Lottery and the lottery players for their continued support. Together with our growing, international network of members and partners we are looking forward to continuing our mission and shaping a visionary and practical future for our planet. [caption id="attachment_12029" align="aligncenter" width="4422"]
Image: Roy Beusker[/caption]
We recently had the pleasure to hear about yet another business engaging in the circular economy. This particular story was about the transition from a linear to a circular economy; a manufacturer rethinking its product from design to maintenance; a business driving 'product-as-a-service' innovation; the concept of a circular bicycle crystallising; and an entrepreneur demonstrating steadfast commitment to the circular economy. It was inspiring, but also revealed how challenging it can be for businesses to finance the transition.This story of Isla Bike's Imagine Project, and many more like it, make it rewarding to look back at our Circle Finance Programme's accomplishments and exciting to look ahead to the future.2016 was a great year, starting with the publication of our 'Money makes the World go Round' report and culminating in the publication of our report series 3 Essential Steps to Financing Circular Business Models. It involved fruitful collaborations with - among others - researchers at the Sustainable Finance Lab, Dutch government representatives and financial stakeholders such as our strategic partner ABN AMRO. Most importantly, it also involved close collaboration with businesses - small and large - and brought to life many inspiring stories, for example the case studies on Bundles and Dutch aWEARness.2017 promises to be equally rewarding and exciting! Here are some of the things we look forward to working on with you!Finding Solutions for Businesses and EntrepreneursFrom startup accelerators to multinationals, we see a growing appetite for the circular economy and will continue to deliver workshops to support capacity building. The circular economy relies on business model innovation and we will work closely with our members, strategic partners and clients to develop innovative financial solutions and advance circularity. Informed decision-making also relies on robust financial modelling and we will seek partnerships with financiers and businesses to grow our expertise.
We are hearing a lot of talk about investment opportunities in the circular economy. However, to walk the walk, we need to understand the technical aspects of financing; how do current financing mechanisms work? how can we tweak them to finance circular businesses? how should this reflect the growing importance of shifting ownership and increasing value chain collaboration? - Aglaia Fischer, Project Manager Circle Finance Programme at Circle Economy, Researcher at Sustainable Finance Lab, PhD Candidate at Wageningen University
Advancing Circular Investments Within Financial InstitutionsFinancial stakeholders are starting to tune-in to the circular economy and we will support this trend by continuing to clarify the circular economy landscape and examining linear risk. We will work with investors to identify, track and monitor circular opportunities and their ability to contribute to widely-recognised targets such as the SDGs. We also aim to better understand investment needs and the mechanisms at play, and investigate how valuechain investing can be deployed.
Investors and companies are increasingly facing pressures to achieve resilient financial returns, meet stringent sustainability targets, and create positive societal benefits. Circular investments have the potential to achieve all of these. By building a strong evidence base, we hope to increase the adoption of circular thinking throughout the investment community. - Shyaam Ramkumar, Knowledge and Innovation Manager at Circle Economy
Activating levers in the financial systemThe growing separation of the financial realm from the real economy has lead to increased inequality and has strained our current economic and ecological systems. We need to look beyond our resources and materials to scale practical solutions. Together with our academic partners and financial innovators we will continue to engage in research to understand what levers need to be activated. This research will take us in exciting directions, such as examining the role of crowd equity to align financial ownership with circularity, defining the role of alternative currencies to stimulate circular behaviour and outlining the potential of financial technologies (i.e. blockchain) to provide a facilitating infrastructure.
If we don’t factor the fundamentals of the financial system into the equation, we will never reach a truly circular economy. - Elisa Achterberg, Project Manager Circle Finance Programme at Circle Economy, Researcher at Sustainable Finance Lab
Interested in joining us on this journey?
[cta link="mailto:matthieu@circle-economy.com" ]Contact us[/cta]
A transition to the circular economy is essential to fight climate change and achieve sustainable growth. Circle Economy, believes that cities play a pivotal role in adopting the circular economy and to create wellbeing for people and the planet. To ensure that policy makers and governments know how and where to implement the circular economy there is a need for practical tools to measure it. In light of this, Erasmus University and Circle Economy are spearheading the research to define the key jobs and skills that will play a role in the transition.
[cta link="http://www.circle-economy.com/Circular-Jobs" ]Read more (English)[/cta] [cta link="http://www.circle-economy.com/circulaire-banen" ]Read more (Dutch)[/cta]
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