The Dutch government wants to move towards a fully circular economy by 2050. In practice, this means radically less and more efficient use of raw materials. To make this happen, significant changes are needed in the industry, processing, consumption and logistics of materials and goods.

What the fully circular economy will look like in 2050 is still unclear. For instance, it makes a big difference whether in this transition it is mainly consumers or rather producers that are in the driving seat, what role digital and technological innovations play and on what scale cycles are organised.

This year, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) published the report 'Room for Circular Economy'. In this report, PBL explores the circular economy through four scenarios. The future scenarios show that the transition looks different.

Spatial effects of circular economy

In the report, the researchers outline the spatial effects on the layout of cities and regions, business parks, port and industrial clusters for each of the four images. They also paint a picture of various circular hubs for logistics and processing of products and raw materials. In addition, they discuss the spatial patterns of the circular economy. From the comparison of these spatial elaborations, insights about the spatial conditions important for the transition to a circular economy follow.

Spatial policy needed now

So far, policy has paid little attention to the demand for suitable space for the circular economy. Governments need to put 'space ' on their agenda to balance the interests of different functions and goals. The exploration has led to a number of starting points for policy.

Number of areas of strategic importance for circular economy

Structural attention is needed to ensure sufficient and suitable space for the circular economy. A number of types of locations are strategically important for the transition to a circular economy. They are:

1. Business parks with a high environmental category (HMC) and multimodal transport facilities (accessible by water, rail and road);
2. Waterfront business parks with environmental space;
3. Place for circular economy in port and industrial areas;
4. Business parks in urban fringes;
5. Business locations near ov, shopping malls and in residential areas for repair, sharing, reuse and recycling.

It is important to identify locations that are crucial for the circular economy and ensure that they are and remain available for circular activities, for instance by building in flexibility and adaptivity. This will help avoid making irreversible choices that could hinder the transition to the circular economy. The supply of these locations is limited and there is also demand by other functions.

Source: https://www.pbl.nl/publicaties/ruimte-voor-circulaire-economie