On 11 November 2020 we organized our fourth key stakeholder meeting in the region of Utrecht (NL). Due to COVID-19 restrictions we again met, presented and discussed online.
HU started the meeting by informing the key stakeholders about the project progress. We mentioned the many best practices on ‘renewability’ and ‘product-as-a-service’ that were shared during the online 3rd interregional meeting on 17 September. We asked for examples for interesting best practices for ‘sharing platforms’ to present at the 4th interregional meeting.
In addition, we shared the major outcome of the discussion about CE policy in Utrecht, that took place during the 3rd interregional meeting. From the 15 lessons learned, we especially gave thought to: viewing the city as an urban mine, aiming for scaling up of initiatives, and compare and benchmark with other regions nationally and internationally.
Next to informing, the core of the meeting was about discussing and distilling necessary elements for the action plan for CE policy in the region; and about an effective approach to involve businesses in the process of the region’s CE action plan.
With regards to developing a regional CE action plan two main aspect can be distilled from the meeting. First, it was pointed out that in developing circular economy, resources should be at the basis of any analysis. Therefore insight is needed in the major resources that ‘flow through our region’. This lead to a call for a regional resource and material flow analysis. Second, CE policy should involve both public and private initiatives, and both long term and short term time horizons.
Next, in order to involve businesses, plans and projects must be tangible and have to be scaled-up. To be able to involve business in the development of a CE action plan the key stakeholders suggested a two-stage approach:
1. Expert panel sessions on useful and needed CE policy with regional organisations. The aim of these sessions is twofold: be able to better inform business on CE policy and be able to ask more specific questions about what companies need.
2. Circular economy event in Utrecht. Inspire companies with best practice case studies. And involve these businesses in CE policy action plan development.
The stakeholder meeting that will be organized next year, will contribute to this approach to broaden the network and inspire more companies about circularity in the Utrecht region.
An important aspect for the project is the development of an action plan for better circular economy policy. It was stressed that this should get more attention, and that a broader group of stakeholders should be involved.
Evert-Jan Velzing
University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
[email protected]
0031614635718
