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KNOWLEDGE MAP Back to overview

Circular Economy

Circular knowledge networks and platforms

Circular platforms and knowledge networks accelerate the realisation of the circular economy by sharing knowledge, highlighting case studies and facilitating collaboration. These leading platforms and knowledge networks that are active worldwide and in the Netherlands set a good example.

In addition to these platforms and networks, there are also many knowledge institutions that are accelerating the transition by sharing knowledge, for example by offering freely accessible online courses on the subject, MOOCs.

International

Circle Lab

Circle Lab is an online platform for cities, businesses and citizens to explore and implement circular business models and strategies to address universal and local challenges. By digitizing knowledge, unlocking access and stimulating co-creation, Circle Lab aims to split information silos and foster cross-sector collaboration and innovation. Circle Lab also provides access to more than 1,000 examples of the circular economy in practice, as well as other articles and reports on the subject.

More information on the Circle Lab website.

CE 100 Network

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has initiated the Circular Economy 100 (CE 100) network for the purpose of exchanging knowledge on circular economy between the members of the network. Its members are mainly large companies, regions and governments. The network provides a pre-competitive space to learn, share knowledge and develop new collaborative approaches.

Most global companies understand that a circular economy must play a role in their strategy to remain competitive. Success requires significant individual efforts, but serious actors also recognise the need to work together to build new markets. The CE100 network facilitates market creation by providing collaborative and pre-competitive opportunities that bring together businesses, innovators, cities and governments, universities and opinion leaders.

For more information, visit the Ellen MacArthur Foundation website.

The Netherlands

Regional

There are platforms in various regions where entrepreneurs, governments and/or researchers can meet each other in a joint transition to a circular economy. Important examples are Circular Friesland (Friesland, but also Groningen and Drenthe), CIRCLES (East Netherlands) (in Dutch) and ACCEZ (South Holland) (in Dutch).

Versnellingshuis Netherlands Circular

The Versnellingshuis Nederland Circular helps entrepreneurs to scale up circular business models. Entrepreneurs can ask questions about knowledge, financing and legislation and regulations. The Versnellingshuis also helps CE by giving entrepreneurs access to an extensive network of cooperation partners. Part of the Versnellingshuis CE is the online community CirculairOndernemen.nl, where supply and demand of organizations in the circular economy meet. Finally, the Acceleration House CE starts three to five breakthrough projects a year. Think, for example, of a pilot plant for the chemical recycling of plastic and for textiles. (Het Groene Brein, 2019; VNO-NCW, 2019) (in Dutch).

More information on the website of the Versnellingshuis Nederland Circular (in Dutch).

Holland Circular Hotspot

Holland Circular Hotspot is a private public platform in which companies, knowledge institutes and (local) governments collaborate internationally with the aim of exchanging knowledge and stimulating entrepreneurship in the field of circular economy. The organisation focuses on stimulating international cooperation between the business community, knowledge institutes, governments and other relevant parties. In addition, it develops an (online) community for (inter)national parties so that circular challenges and solutions become visible and business potential can be exploited. In line with this, the Holland Circular Hotspot assists foreign parties in finding Dutch business partners on circular economy topics. In addition, it facilitates the access of the business community to Dutch and international (financing) instruments and programmes.

More information on the website of the Holland Circular Hotspot

Sustainable Finance Lab

The Sustainable Finance Lab (SFL) is an informal network of mostly academics that conducts research into making banks and markets more sustainable. The academics come from various disciplines and universities in the Netherlands that are members in a personal capacity. The SFL was founded in 2011 on the initiative of professors Herman Wijffels and Klaas van Egmond of Utrecht University and Peter Blom of Triodos Bank. A secretariat attached to the Utrecht University School of Economics supports the members. Funding for the work of SFL is provided through the SFL foundation. This foundation receives structural contributions from Triodos Bank and De Nederlandsche Bank. In addition, there is project financing from ministries and other financial institutions and Utrecht University finances two post-doc positions.

More information on the website of the Sustainable Finance Lab.

Madaster

Madaster is an independent platform for individuals, companies and governments with the aim of creating a materials cadastre. Madaster is an initiative of the Madaster Foundation, a Dutch non-profit foundation that aims to eliminate waste. The company states that if raw materials are well documented, they remain available without limit. With the help of so-called material passports, materials are given an identity, so that they no longer disappear into anonymity as waste. Madaster acts as a library and generator for material passports.

More information on the website of Madaster.