Finally, making data-driven decisions about a circular strategy. Thanks to the Circular Potential Methodology.

As an industry or region, how do you know which circular strategy is the most promising—and therefore worth investing in?

Now there is a tool that provides this insight. The Circular Potential Methodology (CPM) calculates, at the product group level, which circular strategy has the greatest potential. This potential, expressed in kilograms or percentages, shows at a glance where the greatest opportunities lie for reducing raw material use, lowering costs, cutting CO2 emissions, and improving supply security. The CPM thus supports data-driven decisions that previously had to be made based on incomplete estimates. With the CPM, industries and regions have a powerful tool at their disposal to implement concrete projects, investments, and policy measures.

Methodology results

The concrete outcome of the CPM is an overview of the potential of six circularity strategies. These strategies are:

• Intensification
• Extending the service life
• Efficiency
• Behavioral reduction
• Substitution
• High-quality recycling (expressed as a percentage)

Using standardized steps, this methodology helps you identify the circular potential of your product group or region. During workshops with experts, you systematically collect data and insights and test their feasibility using “what-if” scenarios. You then translate this realistic data into concrete measures to reduce raw material use and CO2 emissions. These might include guidelines for circular product design or policy.

Who might be interested?

Industry associations, intermediaries, and product teams at Routekaarten use the CPM to:

• Gaining insight into and an overview of circular potential
• Support strategic decisions
• Identify promising activities and products within a joint innovation agenda.

This is how you initiate structural change and work toward future-proof business practices within your product group or sector.

Regions use the CPM specifically to assess the circular potential of key economic activities within the region. Thus, while the CPM does not provide an overall picture of a region’s circular potential, it does offer a clear assessment of a well-defined sector within the region.

Sector tools born out of strategic necessity

In a time of geopolitical tensions, import tariffs, and vulnerable supply chains, it is essential that Dutch sectors maintain control over their raw materials. For this reason, the Netherlands is working on the raw materials transition—that is, the shift toward minimizing the use of primary raw materials, shortening supply chains, and extracting more value from what we already have. Circularity plays a key role in this transition because it helps keep critical materials in use within the domestic supply chain. To promote the raw materials transition, Circonnect is publishing a series of Sector Tools, including the Circular Potential Methodology. These tools, in the form of do-it-yourself modules and collaborative workshops, offer industry associations and regions concrete guidance on how to maintain control over their raw materials through circular practices.