From a linear to circular economy
Globally, the demand for raw materials is fast increasing. The current and traditional linear economy is unsustainable and negatively impacts the natural environment. Therefore, there is a need to use raw materials more efficiently. The goal for the Dutch economy is to be completely circular by 2050.
What is a Circular Economy?
A circular economy can be defined as an economic system that replaces the ‘end-of-life’ concept with reducing, alternatively reusing, recycling and recovering materials in the whole production-distribution-consumption process.
Restoring destroyed ecosystems
Irresponsible resource use and other climate and human stressors such as overexploitation, eutrophication and land-use changes have led to the rapid decline of natural ecosystems.
These ecosystems bring about many important services such as coastal protection and encouraging biodiversity which are now lost or degraded.
Restoration is an attempt to reverse these losses. Of course, not all damages are reversable, but restoration approaches and techniques are improving and are introduced more urgently on the political agenda.
In the Netherlands, damaged ecosystems as a result of nitrogen emissions has led to increased restoration efforts. By 2030, more than half of the protected nature areas called Natura 2000 need to be restored and at healthy nitrogen levels.
