Circular economy - Chile EN
The Netherlands is one of the most ambitious countries in the global circular movement. While we have developed many technologically innovative solutions, we’ve come to realize that creating socially and environmentally responsible attitudes together with institutional flexibility is equally important. By inspiring people and institutions to rethink, redesign and pursue a positive future we can ensure that circular advancements are actually adopted by public and private organizations, institutions and society as a whole.
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Circular economy is a concept that is already well established around the world. It asks for a major shift from a linear based economy and a take-make-waste approach, to a circular system based on the principles of eliminating waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
The Netherlands has the ambition to become a fully functioning circular economy by 2050. To do this the government is taking various measures to encourage a social climate that’s open for behavioral change, and creating an ecosystem in which all the necessary social and institutional changes are embraced. But to create an economy that is truly 100% circular, we will need to go beyond national borders, by working together with fellow pioneering partners on a shared mission.
Chile and the Netherlands are both countries with active and ambitious commitments to these goals and contribute to the solutions in different ways. A close cooperation between our countries on public, private and academic level supports the development and implementation of effective, efficient and innovative solutions. Circularity is a main driver of what the Netherlands has to offer in Chile. It is a cross cutting theme of our activities in other sectors (water, ports & logistics, agriculture).
The Dutch government strongly believes in the circular economy. Not just because it’s more sustainable, but it will ultimately move the economy to one which is more robust, cross-functional, and less dependent on natural resources. A circular economy offers room for innovation and opportunities for new business ideas, skilled jobs and improved quality of life.
The first step? Cutting back our use of raw materials with 50% by 2030. Along with 180 other Dutch parties, the government in 2017 signed The National Raw Materials Agreement, containing agreements on how to accelerate towards a circular economy. In 2018, the parties to this Agreement developed the so-called Transition Agendas for the five sectors economically most valuable and impactful, and at the same time environmentally the most damaging: biomass and food, plastics, manufacturing, construction and consumer goods. In February 2019, the government presented the Implementation Programme 2019-2023, containing concrete actions on how to execute the five Transition Agendas, that will be monitored regularly.
In the spirit of “practice what you preach”, the Dutch government decided to encourage the circular marketplace by becoming a launching customer. All ministries have signed the Manifest for Socially Responsible Commissioning and Procurement 2022 - 2025 and agreed that a concrete action plan will be created. The first signatures were placed on the Manifest on November 24th, 2022. This way, the government accelerates the process of more circular innovation and inspires entrepreneurs to adopt circular business models. To ensure companies and organizations are in a position to actually implement their circular plans, the government is prepared to remove or adjust legal and regulatory barriers. Also, so-called Green Deals were introduced, providing entrepreneurs with knowledge and expertise, access to networks, and assistance with entering markets.
Transforming a country’s entire economic system can’t be done without the support of its citizens, and for a long time the circular economy was associated with lower-quality products, less choice and making sacrifices. Therefore, creating the right narrative and a more positive attitude to the circular economy shift is crucial.
With lots of small-scale initiatives, we made the circular economy more visible, giving people the chance to experience what circularity means, in a fun, accessible way, such as jeans made from recycled materials. We have also launched a shared economy initiative, where you can rent a bicycle instead of buying one, which is replaced when damaged. By including the public in the transition towards a circular economy, you make them more open to changing their behavior and adopting new innovations and ideas.
The Dutch tend to think of themselves as being inventive, entrepreneurial and agile; it is in our DNA. We are keen to learn from our own mistakes, and are open to learning from others. The government wants to boost this entrepreneurial mentality, by supporting circularity-minded initiatives. An example is the Versnellingshuis (Netherlands Circular Accelerator), which boosts circular innovation at a regional and municipal level, by helping entrepreneurs to develop, launch and scale-up their circular products and services.
Our innovative, entrepreneurial climate inspires circular pioneers from all over the world to come to the Netherlands. For this reason, the Netherlands is proud to host the PACE (Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy) Action Hub, a public-private platform with truly committed members.
Creating a circular economy requires the reshaping of an entire system. From reducing dependence on primary materials and energy to creating new products and inventing new production processes, to changing the way we develop business models. Such all-encompassing changes can only be made in co-creation: by looking at the entire value chain and identifying where we can make the biggest impact.
A central enabling factor in this process is what we refer to as ‘the Dutch Collaborative Approach’, where government, knowledge institutions, businesses and civil society work together. Setting aside their own short-term interests to focus on shared long-term objectives. Making cross-sectoral collaborations more effective, processes more agile and pioneering projects pilots easier to organize.
The Netherlands remains committed to developing an economic system that’s effective, sustainable and less wasteful. And we’re looking forward to partnering up with other pioneering nations. The Dutch government, companies, knowledge institutes and NGOs work together with partners all over the world to exchange ideas on policy making and networking, technical knowhow, and innovations, and also to learn from each other’s successes and mistakes. We collaborate by sharing insights and tools on topics like circular agro-food, water and waste management, chemical recycling and innovative packaging. The Netherlands is a member of the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), in which more than 40 countries, companies and international organizations work together.
Chile has developed multiple initiatives that support the national strategy on Circular Economy, such as the Extended Producer Responsibility law, a Plastic Pact, and a Circular Economy Roadmap. There are many opportunities in this area, particularly in Construction, Textiles, Waste Management, Agriculture and Water. Building on opportunities in packaging, recycling, waste-to-energy, eco-design and more would accelerate the transition towards a Circular Economy.
We have to collaborate to combine existing technologies and shape new solutions to create a better future and a better world. The world’s (urban) challenges call for international cooperation wherein every voice is important. The Netherlands and Chile have joined forces in several inicitatives:
- The Netherlands has supported Chile with the development of the Chilean Circular Economy Roadmap, by sharing experiences and best practices from the same process that has taken place in the Netherlands.
- Holland Circular Hotspot, a leading Dutch private - public platform on circular economy, participated in the first Circular Hotspot in Latin America, which took place in Santiago de Chile in 2023.
- Chile and The Netherlands cooperate in multilateral fora to strengthen climate ambitions.
Let’s join together to turn circular innovations into everyday practice and make the circular shift together!