Dutch Government Updates Circular Economy Program to Combat Climate Change
The Hague, Thursday, 16 October 2025.
The Netherlands’ latest circular economy program emphasizes funding and execution to transition towards sustainability, but stakeholders highlight a lack of focus on prevention strategies.
Focus on Structural Funding and Execution
On October 14, 2025, the Dutch government released an updated version of the National Program for Circular Economy (NPCE), emphasizing structural funding and concrete execution goals to support the transition towards a circular economy. The revised program highlights the importance of collaboration and chain approaches, which are central to the effective implementation of circular practices across various sectors [1]. However, stakeholders have raised concerns about the insufficient emphasis on prevention strategies, which are crucial for enhancing sustainability and reducing environmental pollution in urban areas [1].
Stakeholders Call for Prevention and Reuse
The National Association of Waste Management and Public Cleansing (NVRD) has urged the government to shift focus from recycling to prevention and reuse, emphasizing the need for legally enshrined, concrete, measurable, and accountable goals per product group [1]. The organization also advocates for multi-year implementation financing to ensure that municipalities and public waste services can effectively contribute to achieving the program’s objectives [1]. Research by Wageningen University & Research, commissioned by NVRD and Verpact, underscores the urgency of this shift, revealing that 64% of plastic packaging is still limited or non-recyclable [1].
Challenges and Opportunities in Circular Economy
The NPCE update introduces chain tables for each product group, a step forward in managing raw material flows. However, stakeholders caution that these tables must be properly established to avoid fragmentation and leverage existing collaborations [1]. Furthermore, there is a need for regulatory space to experiment with circular business models, many of which are not initially profitable [1]. European initiatives, like the LIFE program, aim to support the transition to a sustainable, circular, and climate-resilient economy through substantial funding and collaboration between entrepreneurs, researchers, and governments [2].
Looking Ahead: Implementation and Impact
As the Netherlands advances its circular economy agenda, the success of this initiative will depend on the alignment of policy, implementation, and financing. Municipalities and public collectors play a pivotal role, as they are integral to the circular chain where all raw material flows converge before regaining value in the economy [1]. Announced cabinet letters on waste collection standardization and revisions to extended producer responsibility (UPV) schemes offer opportunities to enhance circularity through prevention and high-quality reuse [1]. The continuation of the VANG program further supports these objectives by promoting structural funding for local implementation and clear targets per product group [1].