Circular Economy Week showcases innovations in raw material conservation

30 January 2020

The Dutch government wants to complete the transition to a fully circular economy by 2050. For this, the Netherlands must handle raw materials differently. Recently published reports show that there is still a long way to go. During the Week of the Circular Economy, pioneers are setting a good example. From Monday February 3 through Friday February 7, more than one hundred companies will show how they have successfully made the switch to circular production.

Acceleration House Netherlands Circular! is organizing the Week of Circular Economy for the fifth time this year in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Circl, the circular pavilion of the ABN Amro is headquarters of the Week.

Practical tips and fuckups

Oil and pigment extracted from coffee grounds, 3D printed infrastructure, lease fashion, modular homes and earning models based on waste streams. The Dutch circular economy offers numerous solutions to the growing need for a new direction for the global economy. This coming week, good examples from all over the country will be given a stage, frontrunners will meet each other and starters will receive concrete tools to get started.

Antoine Heideveld, co-founder of Acceleration House Netherlands Circular: “After five years of the Circular Economy Week, involvement in the Netherlands is greater than ever. More and more companies, governments and knowledge institutes are sharing their knowledge about the circular steps they are taking. Every time I see the energy that is created when it comes to new products, such as endlessly recyclable mattresses and modular homes. And certainly when it comes to new revenue models, such as use instead of ownership. That inspires. Circular entrepreneurship offers a lot of opportunities. In this way, we will jointly achieve the climate target of 2050 .”

Kick-off: National Conference on Circular Economy

The Week of Circular Economy kicks off on 3 February in The Hague with the National Conference on Circular Economy. During the opening, Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans will deliver the keynote, Minister Stientje van Veldhoven will debate with the financial sector, there will be a circular fashion show and six promising circular companies and initiatives from public institutions will compete for the Circular Awards 2020.

Circular events across the country

Go on an agrofood expedition in Flevoland or explore the Amsterdam circular port.
Discuss the role of plastic in Rotterdam together with Coca-Cola, WUR, Unilever and Milieu Centraal.
Discover in Circl which steps Amsterdam is taking in the transition to a circular construction economy and find out in Pakhuis de Zwijger about our jobs in such a new sustainable economy.
Take a look in the kitchen of Fontys Expertise Centre in Eindhoven, metal processor Brink in Hoogeveen, textile factory Texperium in Twente or bicycle product Roetz-Bikes in Amsterdam.
Receive one-on-one advice during the walk-in consultations at BlueCity, linger at the Genius Bar in Circl, go speed dating with Rabobank or get advice on feasible business cases from KPMG.
Can’t see the wood for the trees anymore? Declutter your life with Jelle Dercks in Circl, get inspired at the Zero Waste Festival in Blue City, discover the art of failure during the FuckUp Nights in Rotterdam or at Fail Forward by Impact Hub Amsterdam.