Drawing on global experiences in achieving a circular economy

August 23, 2024
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We’re continually inspired by the passionate changemakers who are working towards a more sustainable future both in Australia and around the world, including Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Cramer, previously Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, now an emeritus professor in sustainable innovation at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

This month, the Seamless team were thrilled to join a reception at the residence of Ambassador Ardi Stoios-Braken hosted by the Embassy and Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia.

Three takeaways from the Dutch experience

Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Cramer, world expert and Chair of various sustainability initiatives in the Netherlands, including Circular Textiles, reminded us of the importance of network governance and that:  

  1. Waste is a valuable resource which can be reused and recycled as part of new, viable business models.
  2. Transformative circular initiatives are only possible when willing partners join forces to collaborate.
  3. Independent intermediaries or transition brokers are essential for organising and creating circular initiatives as they make connections and build alliances across the system and help accelerate the pace of change.
Seamless as a transition broker

Seamless is incredibly proud of our role as a transition broker for the Australian clothing industry. We look forward to continuing to learn from global best practice and applying it in a local context to help transform how we choose, enjoy and recycle clothing in Australia.

To learn more from the Dutch experience, comprehensive resources from Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Cramer, ‘How Network Governance Powers the Circular Economy: Ten Guiding Principles for Building a Circular Economy Based on the Dutch Experience’ and ‘Building a Circular Future: Ten Takeaways for Global Changemakers’ are available for free download from the Holland Circular Hotspot.