Author: Egbert Dommerholt | Lecturer in Biobased Business Volarization at the Biobased Economy Knowledge Center of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen
The corona crisis has seriously disrupted international – and therefore also Dutch – society. According to Johan Cruijff, every disadvantage has its advantage and this also applies to the corona crisis. The lockdown and the associated decline in production have caused a significant reduction in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. There is a fear that once the crisis is over, most people and organizations will return to business as usual, with all the consequences this entails for the natural environment.
However, this is at odds with what the European Commission and the Dutch government have in mind. Both want zero net CO2050 emissions by 2 and that economic growth and raw material use are decoupled. Raw materials must be used not only more efficiently but also more effectively. Products and materials must be kept 'in the loop' for longer. This is where the circular economy comes into play. The Dutch government has indicated that the Dutch economy must be approximately 50 percent circular by 2030. According to the latest Biogap Report, we are currently at just under 25 percent in the Netherlands.
In my opinion, two conditions are necessary to achieve a fully circular economy. Firstly, we need to build circular ecosystems in Europe. These are networks of organizations, where each network no longer has a negative net impact on the natural environment. This goes much further than individual companies that are circular or sustainable. A second necessary condition concerns a recalibration of the 'business-society' relationship. In most cases, companies still focus on making money. When financial values are leading, only those projects are taken up that contribute to (increasing) profitability. If we want to achieve the goals set by the European Commission and the Dutch government, a change in values is necessary, so that the emphasis is on serving society and stakeholders. Research has shown that this does not necessarily have to be at the expense of profitability. In my opinion, such a serving attitude is necessary for the success of the circular economy.
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