Netherlands year-end review 2023: Dealing with circular economy

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported 7 out of the 13 indicators in the Business Cycle Tracer performing above their long-term trend in April – the month when economic climate in the country was more negative than in March. Though the consumer in April felt slightly better than in previous month, the confidence was well below the long-term average over the past two decades. During the month, the producer confidence also deteriorated despite being above its long-term average. Earlier in February, the working-day adjusted total volume of goods exports was up 5.8 per cent, y-o-y. The average daily output of the manufacturing industry was 2 per cent lower than in February 2022, while in January, it contracted 2.3 per cent.

EPR introduced

In July, the Netherlands introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textile products which meant the textile manufacturers and importers, and also fashion online shops that deliver to Dutch consumers from abroad, will be obliged to deal with the circular economy of their products, even to the extent of what happens to their products after use. While the supply side will be responsible for the entire cycle of their goods, up to the stage of waste as final step, the consumers can now leave their textiles at collection points to enable their reuse. This will help minimise the throwing away of the clothes and textiles. The aim is to encourage companies to reuse or recycle materials and provide a large proportion of them, including textiles, as a new raw material. So far, within Europe, EPR rules for textiles existed only in France, and also in Belgium but on a voluntary basis.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (WE SB)