On December 1, AmCham’s Sustainability & Innovation Committee organized a session on circularity hosted at Renewi Zoeterwoude. Renewi is a leading waste-to-product company in some of the world's most advanced circular economies.
Jenny Davis-Peccoud, Chair of AmCham Sustainability & Innovation Committee, opened the session by outlining what is required to successfully transition to a circular economy. AmCham Members Coca-Cola, Dow and Rabobank shared learnings and addressed circularity opportunities and gaps, using circularity to reduce carbon emissions, and how to give used products a second life.
Eva Amsterdam, Senior Sustainability Manager Netherlands at Coca-Cola, shared Coca-Cola’s commitment to net zero and how innovative designs, recycling, refill and reuse will help this goal. Jaap den Doelder, R&D Fellow at Dow, discussed Dow’s 5 pillars to achieve plastics circularity and net zero. These pillars were: design for recyclability, mechanical recycling, advanced recycling, bio-based feedstocks, and carbon as a key to growing driver. Björn Aarts, ESG Director at Rabo Investments, showed how the financial sector can contribute to the circular economy. Rabobank has a Circular Business Desk, in which it supports clients and colleagues with strategic inquiries and problems relating to circular business models.
After these insightful speeches, guests were invited to join a tour of the Renewi site, which really brought to life the mechanics of the circular economy. The session concluded with a discussion and drinks.
For a photo impression, please click here.
AmCham cordially thanks Renewi for hosting this session, Eva Amsterdam, Jaap den Doelder and Björn Aarts for their insights into the topic and Coca-Cola, Dow and Rabobank for their collaboration.
