The region of Friesland, the Netherlands, aims to be Europe’s most circular region in the year 2025. The Circular Friesland Association involves more than 170 regional organizations, that build a new circular economy in this region. Together, they set up new circular value chains, develop circular sectors and create new circular jobs. Their motto: just do it!

This webinar will explore concrete initiatives from Friesland that make a real impact, focusing on: circular and biobased construction and the recycling of plastics. Among others, the just launched Circular Hemp Chain-deal will be presented, with which Friesland forms the first fully regional biobased value chain in Europe (from plant to factory to building).

Second, it will discuss how this unique regional cooperation can accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. Recently, Friesland has taken the initiative to form a cooperation of regional front runners in Europe. In the webinar, there will be a reflection on the insights gained from frontrunner region Tampere in Finland and the lessons learned between these two ambitious regions.

John Vernooij (chairman of Circular Friesland and CEO of Omrin, a regional waste management company and recycling frontrunner), and Nick Boersma, (program manager at Circular Friesland) and Heikki Moilanen (Circular Pirkanmaa, Tampere) will present their ideas in this impact-focused and interactive webinar, under the moderation of Friso Pietersen (Advisor circular economy at the Dutch Enterprise Agency). There will be enough time reserved for questions from the audience, and we invite everyone to participate. This webinar will be especially of interest to those active in circular construction, recycling, regional cooperation, and, in fact, anyone else sharing a passion for a “just do it” circularity mentality.

Agenda

Welcome by the moderator
Friso Pietersen, Advisor Circular Economy International, Dutch Enterprise Agency

Circular Friesland: best practices in one of Europe’s most circular regions
John Vernooij, Chairman of Circular Friesland and CEO of Omrin

Spotlight: innovations in biobased building in Friesland
Nick Boersma, Program manager, Circular Friesland Association

Spotlight: the business case for the recycling of plastics
John Vernooij, Chairman of Circular Friesland and CEO of Omrin

Regional cooperation: the case of Friesland and Tampere
Heikki Moilanen, Circular Pirkanmaa, Tampere

Q&A