Previous governments have set the goal of running a ‘fully circular economy’ by 2050. There is no waste in it and raw materials are used again and again. In eight years, by 2030, the goal is to use 50 percent less raw materials (such as petroleum and minerals).
“Through smarter use of raw materials, reuse of products and parts, and recycling of materials, fewer raw materials are needed. This saves energy throughout the entire production chain,” write the PBL researchers. “So far, the possibilities offered by efficient use of raw materials have only been used sparsely,” reports the PBL.
They are thinking of all kinds of actions, from making plastic packaging from biomass (instead of petroleum) to recycling metals from electronics. “That can reduce the demand for new metal ores, and so can the associated loss of nature and environmental pollution during extraction and production.”
Lacking effects
The government is currently taking too few measures to achieve the self-imposed goals, the PBL concludes. “Capturing the potential of environmental pressure reduction requires elaboration in concrete and government-wide policy, as well as the deployment of more compelling instruments and more financial resources.”
The coalition agreement of VVD, D66, CDA and CU states that a circular economy can mainly contribute to tackling various challenges, such as combating climate change, reducing pollution (with PFAS) and preserving biodiversity.
But according to the researchers, there are no elaborations. The accountants write that an ‘intensification’ of the policy ‘with more pressure and coercion, and the realization of the intentions from the new coalition agreement’ are necessary in order to achieve the goals.