Looking back at the experiences of an incoming trade mission to the Netherlands
Living in a densely populated delta below sea level, the Dutch were forced over centuries to develop extensive knowledge and experience in finding high quality, sustainable and affordable solutions to protect delta areas and enable delta life. The Netherlands is now one of the regions in the world where the first concrete steps are being taken towards a circular economy. It is a country with the most innovative examples in this area, a living lab where innovation is being shared for the benefit of all countries in the world.
From the 13th through the 15th of April 2016 a 3-day trade mission took place to visit the Netherlands as a Circular Hotspot. The attendees of the trade mission came from all over the globe and were a mixed group of representatives from government bodies, business and NGO’s. The Netherlands CE Hots organisation together with the Ministry of Infrastructure & Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had set up an impressive programme with different options to get acquainted with leading examples of circular products, services and business models. The incoming trade mission took place just at the time that Amsterdam had been awarded the European Capital of Innovation, or iCapital, for 2016.
The program started with a visit to the Circular Economy Expo, located close to Schiphol Airport, where state of the art innovation projects on circular economy were showcased.
Several participants commented on the visible commitment from all stakeholders towards a circular economy. For example: strong support came from our “green” Prince Carlos but also from the highest level of our government. “We are a nation of little hierarchy, with highly educated people, many entrepreneurs and the highest waste collection rates in the world”, said Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte when he officially addressed the event. “If you put this all together, I think the Netherlands can play a leading role in sustainable urbanization and circular economy”. Prime minister Rutte received the vision document by the Netherlands Circular Hotspot, a movement to inspire governments and international businesses to take action towards a more circular economy. Leading Corporate CEO’s, leaders from SME’s as well as NGO’s, Ministries, and Knowledge Institute were outspoken in their support for the Circular Economy. The strong examples of collaboration between Universities, companies and government partly explains why Circular economy falls into fertile grounds in the Netherlands.
Acceleratio was proud to be one of the tour guides of the Trade Mission.
Let me share some of the highlights. Directly after arrival the Trade Mission was welcomed by the CEO of Schiphol Airport. They demonstrated their commitment and gave examples of the bio-based economy like bio-based fuels, smart mobility, and strong focus on energy efficiency. Most recently they didn’t procure lamps but opted for light as a service.
Mr Zachariasse from Delta Development Group shared his vision for Park2020. It is the first full service Cradle to Cradle working environment in the Netherlands. In Park 20|20 a unique level of sustainability is created together with a human centered design approach to realise the cleanest, most inspiring and productive working environment to date. It has an integrated circular vision, modular buildings, natural ventilation, cold & heat storage, water re-use and urban farming.
One excursion went to the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest Port that is starting to walk the talk towards Circular Economy. We have seen big & impactful examples like the capturing of industrial CO2 for application in nearby green houses, the “plug & play” heat network combining offer and demand, advanced recycling examples for plastic and construction and green chemistry. But we also saw small and inspirational (even edible!) examples like RotterZwam (mushrooms grown on coffee residues).
The incoming trade mission coincided with the two yearly Innovation Expo. An event where start-ups, CEOs, scientists and ministers mingle and where 200 innovations that bring solutions to global challenges were presented. The trade mission guest experienced innovations in the field of a.o. clean energy, sustainable building, smart mobility and healthy food. Did you know that you can recover not only heat but also for example phosphorus and cellulose from sewage water (and that it is happening in practice)?
The excursions continued to all corners of the Netherlands. In Friesland they visited Wetsus an European centre of Excellence around water technology. They went on bike to see bottom-up examples of Amsterdam city quarter Buiksloterham getting circular driven by a strong community commitment. Visionary architect Thomas Rau show-cased the new Alliander Head Quarter building.
At the Delft University some fine recycling initiatives were shown. Just a few years ago Inashco bottom-ash incinerator recycler left their laboratory and is now present in several continents with a 100 M + revenue potential. New potential winners are plastic flakes recycling with magnetic fluids and concrete recycling. Nice to know is that the innovations have been set up in a revolving fund construction to fuel new ideas.
There were many more fine examples the group visited during the mission. Interface is a leading Circular Economy Modular Carpet Company that is on a Mission: “Mission Zero”.
Small, beautiful and very pragmatic was the visit to Modulo, a modular environmental streets that help municipalities to inspire inhabitants to separate waste.
Large corporates like Philips have shown that there is a business module behind the refurbishment of Medical Equipment.
Friesland Campina showed that even from manure you can make a valuable resource and Black Bear Carbon recycles waste tires into Carbon Black.
The mission was concluded with a match making event with to create new relationships and potential collaboration across the globe. Participants from several countries were so inspired that they competed to to become the next CE Hotspot. They honour went to Luxemburg.
As for me: just like we are collaborating since the Middle Ages in the struggle against water we can truly brand the Netherlands as a Circular Hotspot or a Sustainable Urban Delta. Circular Economy and Smart and Sustainable City solutions can be just as powerful a label for Holland as Water Management but with a much higher market potential.
I congratulate Guido Braam and all the others from the CE Hotspot organisation for this wonderful and inspirational initiative!