The Dutch Government aims to have established a circular economy in 2050. By 2030, the use of primary resources should have decreased by 50 per cent. How do we deal with hazardous substances in the resources cycle? What role does biomass play as a renewable resource? And how do we measure our progress on our way to 2050? RIVM provides answers to these questions.

Waste becomes resources

In a circular economy, we no longer talk about waste, but about resource loops. RIVM contributes to the safe re-use of these materials.

Measuring impact

Meetlint

When local, provincial and national authorities can measure the actual impact of their efforts to promote the circular economy, it will aid them in improving their policies.

Biomass as a resource

Algen

When biomass is used in safe and renewable ways, it presents a possible solution within the circular economy.

Socio-economic analyses

RIVM assesses the sustainability of circular solutions at the product level. We are also increasingly focusing on solutions at the regional or national level.

What does RIVM do?

Figuur transitie circulaire Economie

RIVM improves the quality of circular solutions.

Current updates

News and activities

Our economy is already circular in some respects: rubble from the building sector is used as the subsurface under our roads, and we recycle and re-use paper and plastic. Even so, not all our resource loops have been closed in safe and sustainable ways. It still takes a considerable amount of energy to recycle waste materials. Moreover, the presence of hazardous substances in discarded materials limits options for recycling. Finally, re-use is often not taken into account during product design.

Safe, healthy and sustainable

RIVM increases the quality of circular solutions. We help the business community and government authorities in making choices and resolving dilemmas.