On September 1, 2014 the RACE program (Realisation of Acceleration towards a Circular Economy) was launched by a coalition of partners consisting of MVO Nederland, Circle Economy, De Groene Zaak, Het Groene Brein, Acceleratio, IMSA and the Dutch government. The RACE coalition will collaborate closely to position the Netherlands as a frontrunner in creating a circular economy.
The unique collaboration between government, NGOs and businesses enables multidisciplinary innovation, marrying technological progress with social and system innovation. The RACE program is part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment’s From Waste to Resource program.
The RACE program consists of the following activities:
Defining and stimulating circular design
Studying and stimulating high-quality reuse
Making an inventory of (perceived) barriers
Stimulating and accelerating new value chains
Creating a portfolio of circular project examples
Raising public awareness around the topic of circular economy
Involving young people in the transition towards a circular economy
TNO, one of the leading Dutch research organizations, described the opportunities for the Netherlands with a circular economy in their report for the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment published in 2013. Annual monetary savings of EUR 7.3 billion from reducing demand on natural resources, the creation of 54,000 jobs,and the significant reduction of environmental burdens are some of the national benefits of pursuing a circular economy. By making the production and use of materials circular, the Netherlands can meet its growing needs in a sustainable way.
The transition to a circular economy is a process that includes technical innovations and system change. Together with the partners from the RACE coalition Circle Economy will develop their projects into concrete programmes this fall.
For more information about RACE, please contact one of the Acceleratio team members