The shift towards a circular economy is one of the biggest challenges municipalities will face in the coming years. The EU aims to be fully circular by 2050, requiring significant changes – not just at the European and national levels but also locally.
Many municipalities struggle with a lack of knowledge and expertise in this area. At the same time, increasingly stringent EU regulations, such as the EU sustainability reporting requirements, are putting additional pressure on them. This calls for smart strategies and collaborations.
Time for practical research!
For this reason, researchers Maartje van Stiphout and Shana Atangana Bekono are launching a new research project to explore how municipalities can prepare for new European circular legislation. To support them, they are developing a practical guide to help municipalities set priorities regarding (upcoming European) legislation on the circular economy. Additionally, in collaboration with municipalities and provinces, they are establishing a Community of Practice (CoP) on this topic. The CoP will focus on strengthening collaboration and facilitating the exchange of best practices.
What is a Community of Practice?
Our researchers will work on establishing a Community of Practice for municipalities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The CoP will enable participants to share knowledge and experiences. Through a shared problem statement, participants will explore collective solutions during dedicated sessions. This approach fosters active learning within the network, contributing to the practical implementation of circular economy guidelines and ambitions within municipalities. The development of this CoP is being carried out in collaboration with the New Finance research group at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
In addition, Shana and Maartje are investigating how municipalities can collaborate locally and regionally to accelerate this transition. By sharing best practices and innovative solutions, they will ensure that municipalities are better prepared for the changes the circular economy will bring.
This project is supported by a seed grant under the Transition to Sustainability theme, one of the core themes of The Hague University of Applied Sciences' knowledge agenda.
For more information or to explore how your municipality can get involved in this project, please do not hesitate to contact us.