Within one month since the world agreed to combat climate change at COP21 in Paris, The Netherlands is launching Netherlands Circular Hotspot (NLCH), a campaign spearheading the transition to a circular economy. The campaign builds on the fact that the country has become a hub for innovation and implementation of a circular economy with the desire to share that knowledge and learn from others across Europe and the world. NLCH Initiator His Royal Highness Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme said, “Humanity has great environmental challenges ahead of it. We are at a stage in history where we must find realistic and practical solutions to these. A circular economy offers us a road map for systemic change in our economic ecological and social system. Our ambition with NLCH is to share the practical experiences from businesses, cities, governments, entrepreneurs and communities to show what is possible and inspire ever greater adoption of the circular economy principles“.About Netherlands Circular Hotspot CampaignThe Netherlands Circular Hotspot is a campaign aimed at positioning the Netherlands internationally as a circular hotspot and sharing the best practices and learnings with companies and governments around the world. The campaign includes the realisation of a broad vision on the Netherlands’ circular future, a Circular Expo, exhibiting (internationally) scalable circular projects, and an incoming trade- and journalist mission. The vision will be shaped based on input from Dutch and international thought-, sector- and industry leaders and representatives of younger generations. The visionary document will be presented to European government officials at the Innovation Expo during the Dutch EU presidency in 2016.Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme and Circle Economy are the pioneers of this campaign. The initiators are the Social Economic Council (SER), Delta Development Group, Circle Economy and INSID. Netherlands Circular Hotspot is supported by more than 25 ambassador-businesses, organizations and cooperates with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and NLCirculair!.Background informationThe Netherlands as small as 41.500 km2 with almost 18 mln people living on it, the population density is remarkably high (18% vs 0,5% globally). There’s no choice but to see our small country as one big eco system in which loops need to be closed and our economy is based on a regenerative system. Infinite reuse of resources is the norm, without the expense of economic growth. The Netherlands, being highly dependent on the rest of the world for its increasingly scarce raw materials and particularly vulnerable to climate change and its parallels to rising sea level action has been taken. The innovative and entrepreneurial nature of the Dutch has lead to resolving many societal issues over the past. The position of frontrunner within the circular economy will create benefits for both the Dutch economy as well as the society as a whole. In order to transform to a circular economy the creation of a ‘living lab’ has taken big steps in finding innovative solutions and answers to become an ecosystem of its own. Being a global circular hotspot sharing innovation and collaborating with the rest of the world is necessary to become a global circular economy in order to combat climate change.Prof. Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende, Partner Corporate Responsibility at EY, Professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam, Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands “The Circular Economy is key to quality of life, a sustainable world and huge economic opportunities. It should be part of the DNA of every government, company and organization. As a circular hotspot the Netherlands is proud to play a servant role to other urban delta's around the globe, in being a first national living lab for the circular economy”.Frans van Houten, CEO Royal Philips “At Philips, we embrace circular economy-thinking, because of the intrinsic benefits for societies and because it drives economic growth. We have made significant steps in redesigning our product propositions and business models. Among other innovations, we are pioneering asset tracking to close the loop on re-use of parts and we have designed consumer products from recycled plastics. We also have been selling refurbished medical equipment for a long time. We have significant R&D activities in the Netherlands, an ideal testing ground to jump start breakthrough innovations. That is also why we support Netherlands Circular Hotspot. Together with its initiator Circle Economy, we are committed to make the circular economy happen.”To get inspired go to our social platform to find circular best practices from different industries and governments www.netherlandscircularhotspot.nl. Join us on Facebook.com/NLcircularhotspot and Twitter.com/CircularHotspot Tweet #NLCircularHotspotNetherlands Circular Hotspot | Sharing innovationBest caseswww.netherlandscircularhotspot.nl
_________________________________________________________________________________________The ambassadors of the campaign are: Accenture, Akzo Nobel, Black Bear Carbon, Delta Development Group, Deltares, Desko, DSM, Floow2, FrieslandCampina, City of Amsterdam, Region Haarlemmermeer, Inashco, Interface, KPMG, Modulo, PGGM, Philips, Port of Rotterdam, Powered by Meaning, Rabobank, Rockwool, Royal Haskoning DHV, Rotterdam Partners, Schiphol, Siemens, The Executive Network, Dutch Water Authorities, Van GansewinkelNote for editors:Contact Annerieke Douma for more information or interview requests at 00316 14665068 or Email: press@circularhotspot.nl
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