From dreams to practice: an impression of the Circling Back symposium

The core message of Circling Back consists of 4 elements:

1. Use the circularity principles of Safeguard – Avoid -Prioritise – Recycle – Entropy as guidance in the transition;
2. Take all aspects of circularity into account from (re)design onwards;
3. Change together, and
4. Utilise scale to create optimal use of resources.

We are in it together and all have a role to play: business, society, government & academics.

During the event, Imke de Boer shared the ins-and-outs of the Connected Circularity concept: what it is, and why it is so important for us all.

Hilke Bos-Brouwers, Bjorn Berendsen, Tamara Metze and Jan Broeze were then interviewed on stage in a ‘Roundabout of Results’ from the flagship projects designing, safeguarding, accelerating and scaling for a circular bio-economy.

During the ‘deep-dive sessions’, participants were invited to hear and learn of more details and examples, but above all, were given the opportunity to share their own experiences as well.

In the final plenary, we have been ‘Circling Forward’: what does it take to take the next step towards circularity?

The recommendations from the flagship leaders & Imke de Boer were received symbolically by the systemic representatives Arjen Droog (Director Region Food Valley), Johan Osinga (Director-General Realisation Transition Rural Areas of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality (LNV), Tim Verhoef (Coordinator Working Group Circular Agriculture, Ministry LNV), Ruud Zanders (Co-founder Kipster and Caring Farmers), and Arthur Mol (Rector Magnificus WUR), who also shared their take-aways and next steps.