‘Circular design means preparing a deconstruction plan
The Dutch government has set up a national programme called ‘Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050’, which seeks to realise a 50 % reduction in the consumption of primary raw materials by 2030. Five so-called ‘transition agendas’ are designed to help change course. Such a vision document will result in a welcome acceleration of the process, says Arjen van Nieuwenhuijzen, an expert in energy, water and resource recovery. ‘People are clearly thinking differently; they are adopting a more disruptive mindset based on the conviction that radical change is truly possible. The time is ripe to take bigger steps.’ Arjen has been applying circular principles for over fifteen years in his work for Witteveen+Bos. ‘For environmental reasons, we have long been exploring options for the recycling of water, energy and resources at treatment plants, landfill sites and waste collection and processing facilities. So we have been familiar with circular thinking for quite some time. I am convinced that we as engineers can help to speed up this transition, because we are skilled at thinking laterally 22
and integrally. By applying our sustainable design principles, we can encourage ourselves and our clients and stakeholders to view challenges differently.’ More and more clients are looking to phase out their linear processes, and to ensure that their energy management is in order and that materials can be recycled. Rob Dijcker has been focusing on the circular economy and on waste materials for approximately twelve years. He supported Delfland Water Authority in preparing a circular economy strategy: ‘We started by performing a circularity and selfsufficiency analysis. A strategy has since been drawn up, and work sessions with employees have yielded good ideas that Delfland Water Authority can use to take concrete steps.’ Vallei & Veluwe Water Board also wants all its longterm decision-making to be fully circular from 2025 onward, in order to eventually achieve fully circular operations in 2050. Rob and Arjen are helping the water board to realise these ambitions, working together with consultancy
firm Metabolic, which specialises in industrial ecology. Rob has analysed mass flows within the chain, and has identified possible measures to close loops and become climate-neutral by 2050. ‘Measures to promote circularity are often aimed at existing systems. In the case of Vallei & Veluwe Water Board, however, we quickly asked ourselves if revamping the entire system was a better solution. By zooming out, you can see new possibilities emerging along the existing system boundaries. We must look at the challenges from a different perspective. As engineers, we apply a bottom-up approach based on technology. We help our clients in realising their ambitions and implementing their strategy, and can translate this into challenges - technical or otherwise - that can be addressed.’ Romeo Neuteboom Spijker, project manager and leader of the Circular Economy programme at Vallei & Veluwe Water Board, is pleased with the collaboration: ‘The Water Board has high ambitions when it comes to promoting a circular economy. It is a wonderful, innovative field that demands new expertise and new forms of