“The Government-wide programme for a Circular Economy is aimed at developing a circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050. The ambition of the Cabinet is to realise, together with a variety of stakeholders, an (interim) objective of a 50% reduction in the use of primary raw materials (from minerals, fossil fuels and metals) by 2030. With this objective for the use of raw materials, the Netherlands sets its ambitions at a level adopted in comparable countries.
The Cabinet wants to outline a vision of a future-proof, sustainable economy for us and for future generations. In concrete terms, this means that by 2050 raw materials will be used and reused efficiently without any harmful emissions into the environment. In case new raw materials are needed, they will be obtained in a sustainable manner and further damage to social and physical living environments and public health will be prevented. Products and materials will be designed in such a way that they can be reused with a minimum loss of value and without harmful emissions entering the environment.
This programme contains the current steps and sets a course for the subsequent steps to be taken on the way to 2050.
With this programme, the Cabinet takes responsibility for setting actions in motion that are aimed at achieving this goal. In addition to its role as market regulator and network partner, the Cabinet wants to promote the transition to a circular economy with its eye on promising prospects and a system approach. Special emphasis will be placed on organising the course to be taken, on management and on everyone’s responsibilities.
Through the Government-wide programme, the Cabinet is implementing the Çegerek/Dijkstra motion that requested the Cabinet to come up with an overarching programme for the circular economy.2 We are meeting this request, as well as various other motions and promises (see Appendix 1), with this programme. It is also our response to the recently adopted advisory report of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) and the advisory report by the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli).
In developing this programme, we have benefited from the knowledge, insights and suggestions of a range of different parties from society. To accelerate the transition to a fully fledged circular economy, the efforts of all parties involved are needed and will remain so throughout the entire process. After all, each party – ranging from local governments to social partners and citizens – has unique interventions to offer. The Cabinet will use this programme as the starting point for further cooperation. The Governmentwide programme presents the commitment of this Cabinet for the steps to take from now to 2020.”
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