Haarlem, Netherlands
The circular economy and the energy transition are fundamental pillars of Haarlem’s sustainability strategy. In alignment with this strategy, the city has developed a Circular Economy Action Plan following a transversal approach that involved the Economic Department and the Sustainability Department of the municipality. Haarlem has set an overarching goal to achieve a 50% reduction in the use of abiotic raw materials by 2030 and become a circular city by 2040.
A city of circular innovation
With the participation of the City of Haarlem, the C-District is an innovation hub that fosters collaborative projects around the circular economy. This hub brings together businesses, governmental entities, and educational institutions to exchange knowledge and explore innovative business activities and products with a social impact. The C-District also operates as a testing ground for regional businesses committed to the reuse of residual flows.
A fully circular city by 2040
To fulfil its overarching commitment to reduce the use of abiotic raw materials by half, the city has pledged to ambitious targets:
Procurement: 50% of the products, goods, and services procured by the municipality are circular. The city is committed to procure 100% circular by 2030.
Construction: 20% of housing constructions in the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam are realised in timber, following the Green Deal Timber Construction. 50% of external construction projects have transparent material flows.
Food: The city is fostering a protein shift in municipally-managed canteens, aiming for a 65% plant-based acquisition.
Textiles: The city aims to double the amount of separately collected textiles from 4 kg to 8 kg per inhabitant between 2022 and 2025.