Spotlight countries

Türkiye

Türkiye’s recent economic growth has been accompanied by growing environmental concerns. Recognizing its vulnerability to climate change, the nation has embarked on an ambitious path towards a circular economy, aiming for climate neutrality by 2053. Further propelling this transition is the EU-funded DEEP Project, building national and corporate capacity through a comprehensive National Circular Economy Action and Roadmap. While challenges remain, the spotlight shines on textiles, construction, and food & agriculture, sectors with immense potential for circular transformation.

Dive deeper into Türkiye’s vision for a circular future by visiting their new country page. Gain insights into the policy landscape, discover sector-specific plans for textiles, construction, and food & agriculture, and unlock a wealth of opportunities for collaboration.

For all the relevant facts and figures, download the informative 2-pager here!

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a key player in the global apparel and textile manufacturing sector, which is pivotal to its socio-economic growth. Hence, the country it is committed to international legislations – such as the Sustainable Development Goals and of the Paris Agreement – to promote social, economic and environmental development. As the second world largest garment producer, a transition to circular economy, supported by the Netherlands, seems promising for Bangladesh’s green objectives.

Are you thinking of investing on circular economy in Bangladesh? Get an overview of facts and figures, the political landscape, selected focus areas and relevant upcoming events and networks. Download the 2-pager below or go to the dedicate page.

The United States

The U.S. is catching up on the race to meet the carbon neutrality goal set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. It has made an ambitious commitment to reduce its emissions through a variety of measures, including a transition to a circular economy. As the world’s largest economy striving for a sustainable economy, a collaboration between the U.S. and the Netherlands seems promising.

Are you thinking of doing business in the U.S.? Get an overview of facts and figures, the political landscape, selected focus areas and relevant upcoming events and networks. Download the 2-pager below or go to the dedicated page.

Canada

Canada is a major world economy thanks to its abundant raw materials and local energy resources. Now, as the country faces the risks of climate change, the national government and local businesses have set goals and standards to transition to a circular economy and become carbon neutral by 2050.

Are you interested in learning more about circular economy opportunities in Canada? On this page, you will find an overview of the country’s policy landscape, circular economy strategies, and selected priority sectors.

China

China’s focus on the circular economy has grown steadily in recent years. Over the last four decades, the country witnessed unprecedented economic development, making the country consistently a top world economy and a major manufacturing hub exporting worldwide. Such a high growth pace has however negatively impacted on the environment, with China currently ranking as the third largest waste producer and biggest carbon emitter globally. This has encouraged policymaking in the direction of circularity.

On this page, you can find find key information on the policy landscape, circular economy strategy, and selected priority areas. If you are specifically interested in the Chinese construction sector, download the 2-pager below or go to the dedicated page.

Thailand

Thailand, known for its great tourism destinations, agriculture, and food, has experienced rapid industrial development and urbanization. For decades, Thailand has had sustainability in its core values, starting with the ‘sufficiency economy’ principles until today with plenty of policy, academic and industrial initiatives in the circular economy.

Thinking about doing business in Thailand? Below you will find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy, and selected priority areas!

Malaysia

With fast-developing cities and more than 32 million population, Malaysia faces both challenges and opportunities in its transition to a circular economy. The lack of implemented extended producer responsibility (EPR) and the public sector’s limited capabilities in waste management makes the country miss out on potential value from recycling. Yet, Malaysia has a strong manufacturing base and keeps growing rapidly. Huge company-driven actions on plastic packaging stimulate the country to make room for new market opportunities from design to production, usage to the collection, sorting, recycling, and applying recyclate in new products. With the government’s ambition to reduce greenhouse emissions by 45% in 2030, opportunities for collaboration with The Netherlands as a niche leader in circular manufacturing, seem likely.

Thinking about doing business in Malaysia? Below you will find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy, and selected priority areas!

Vietnam

Vietnam is known for its booming economy. Since its opening to the world market in the eighties, the capita GDP growth rose to one of the fastest in the world, leading to significant poverty reduction. On the other side, partially induced by that outstanding economic growth, Vietnam also struggles with increasing resource depletion and scarcity, pollution and degradation of the environment, and intensifying effects of climate change.  The awareness and predictions of what is to be awaited in the coming years have triggered the attention for the concept of circular economy as a solution for national challenges.

Thinking about doing business in Vietnam? Below you will find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy, and selected priority areas!

Japan

Japan is well known for its exporting power of products such as cars, electronics, computers and semiconductors. With very low natural resources at its disposal, Japan’s economy is reliant on importing raw materials – making Japan one of the world’s top importers of for instance oil, coal and LNG. This creates a need to keep materials in the loop as long as possible at their highest possible value and offers great circular opportunities like reuse, remanufacturing or recycling.

Thinking about doing business in Japan? Below you will find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy and selected priority areas!

Slovakia

By 2050 the material use of Slovakia will, according an estimation of current values, increase by 50%. The automotive and construction industry – which are key sectors of the economy – will account for the majority of this growth. Ambitious to limit this increase, Slovakia is working on a circular roadmap which will provide a thorough overview of the business opportunities of the circular economy in Slovakia.

Thinking about doing business in Slovakia? Below you will find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy, and selected priority areas!

Hungary

The transition to a circular economy will be a main pillar of Hungary’s Recovery and Resilience Plan with an estimated net budget of EUR 590 million available for  the improvement of the waste management infrastructure, including collection, transportation and sorting capacities, the development of a smart, innovative and sustainable industry, and the strengthening of the secondary raw material market.

Thinking about doing business in Hungary? Below you will find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy, and selected priority areas!

Ireland

Circular economy has risen to prominence as a key priority for the Government of Ireland. This results in interesting opportunities for collaboration between Ireland and The Netherlands. Especially in the fields of Food & Beverage, Offshore Wind, and Construction & Demolition Dutch innovations and experience can help Ireland to reach its ambitious climate- and waste goals.

Thinking about doing business in Ireland? Find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy and selected priority areas!

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is committed to moving towards a more circular economy by minimizing waste, promoting resource efficiency and long-lasting resources. In this sense, the Circular Economy Package (CEP) introduced a legislative framework, identifying steps for an ambitious long path for waste management and recycling. It acknowledges that a circular economy can strengthen British-Dutch collaboration in the field.

Seeking business opportunities in the UK? Below you will find information on the policy landscape, selected priority areas, and relevant business networks.

Italy

Italy is a country with relatively scarce natural resources and its economy depends highly on family business and SMEs. Naturally, Italian entrepreneurs have been utilizing circular economy practices long before the term was coined, in order to make the best use of their resources. This developed in a nationwide culture that encourages the circular economy.

Thinking about doing business in Italy? Find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy and selected priority areas!

Nigeria

Nigeria’s population is one of the world’s fastest growing in the world, set to surpass the USA’s population by 2050. Evidence for the circular economy’s potential in Nigeria is, amongst others, reflected in its informal waste management sector that attracts operators due to the abundance of waste and a high demand for recycled materials.

Thinking about doing business in Nigeria? Find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy and selected priority areas!

Chile

Chile shows interesting characteristics for doing business with in the field of circular economy. With the highest score in the Latin American region on the Global Innovation Index and ambitious goals in the field of circular economy and waste management, Chilean-Dutch collaboration is not unlikely.

Thinking about doing business in Chile? Find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy and selected priority areas!

Germany

Germany shows interesting characteristics for doing business with in the field of circular economy. With its GDP ranking 4th in the world, a geographically favorable location and having ambitious circular economy and waste management goals, German-Dutch collaboration is not unlikely.

Thinking about doing business in Germany? Find more information on policy landscape, circular economy strategy and selected priority areas!

Belgium

Belgium shows interesting characteristics for doing business with in the field of circular economy. With its GDP ranking 23rd in the world, a geographically favorable location and having an ambitious circular economy and waste management goals, Belgium-Dutch collaboration is not unlikely.

Thinking about doing business in Belgium? Find information on policy landscape, circular economy strategies and selected priority areas!

France

France exhibits compelling prospects for businesses interested in the circular economy. Ranked 7th in the world by GDP, boasting a strategically advantageous geographical location, and showcasing ambitious goals in circular economy and waste management, the possibility of fruitful collaboration between French and Dutch enterprises is highly promising.

Thinking about doing business in France? Scroll through an overview of facts & figures, policy landscape, selected priority areas, and relevant upcoming events and networks! OR just download the printable and compact 2-pager !