Exploring the Implementation of the Circular Economy in the Netherlands

Sammanfattning: The aim of this research is to explore the state of circular economy adoption and promotion in the Netherlands from the viewpoint of professionals in the field. This research is particularly relevant because the concept of a circular economy is booming all throughout the world, and the Netherlands represents one of the front runners in the application of related strategies. The research questions asked in this study were as follows: ● What circular economy strategies are primarily used in companies in the Netherlands?● To what extent do governments and companies in the Netherlands currently promote a circular economy?● What specific external factors influence the implementation of circular economy strategies in the Netherlands? Aspects of the circular economy were gathered using a literature review, and this information was used to create a tentative conceptual framework. Then, interviews with seven industry professionals in the Netherlands, who were purposively selected, were held, and the data coming therefrom were used to analyse the adoption and promotion of circular economy strategies in the Netherlands, as well as external factors influencing the implementation of said strategies. While the experiences and perspectives of interview participants often matched the literature, there were also some instances where differences were noted. The research showed that there are commonly accepted circular economy strategies in literature and that the actual frequency at which these strategies are employed does not match the expectations of the participants. However, the practical limitations to the adoption of circular economy strategies and which strategies are most common seem to be well understood by industry professionals.  Trends regarding circular economy strategies are not foreseeable according to the research participants, and consumer understanding and greenwashing can be cause for concern in the future. For the Dutch market, the impact of technological advancements, political positions, and the emerging of new global markets are especially relevant when it comes to external factors influencing circular economy adoption in the Netherlands. Several areas for future research have been identified, ranging from studying the impact of internal factors on CE implementation, to optimising policies and regulations, and from increasing stakeholder engagement, to designing measurement metrics and indicators.