Pilot study into the significance of circular economy for the earth chain

In the past century worldwide demand for raw materials has grown explosively. As a result the supply of (primary) raw materials is gradually becoming depleted. The Dutch government therefore, following the European Union (EU), has set itself (together with its partners) a first target to reduce the use of raw materials by 50% in 2030 on its way to become fully circular in 2050 (2). The Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (in Dutch Rijkswaterstaat (RWS)), being responsible for the design, construction, management and maintenance of the main infrastructure facilities in the Netherlands, aims at operating fully circularly in 2030 (3). RWS focuses at various material streams, such as asphalt and concrete. In order to assess whether applying the CE principles to the earth chain contributes to achieving the objects of RWS, this study has been performed with as main assignment: ‘Perform a pilot study into the significance of RWS’s CE objectives for the earth chain’.