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Guiding principle 7
Identify the relevant actors and assess their willingness to join
forces.
To enhance the transformational change towards a circular economy,
it is crucial to have a network of willing actors that joins
forces and creates cohesion in building a circular economy. The
first step is to find actors that can be the engine of change. Upfront
it is hard to determine which actors are interested in simply being
part of the change process and which actors are prime actors.
One can only make a rough assessment and gain a fuller picture
over time.
In the three product chain initiatives, we could map out relevant
actors during the course of execution. They could be grouped
into three categories: prime actors, complementary actors and
supportive actors. Generally speaking, prime actors can steer
the transformational change process into the direction of scaling
up and mainstreaming. However, if they are reluctant to do so,
the process will stagnate. At that point, the national government
will have to remove fundamental barriers to make mainstreaming
possible.
In the mattresses case, the relevant actors could be identified
during the circular economy lab organised at the start of the scaling
up phase. It became clear that the producers were prime actors in
the change process; scaling up would be hampered if 70% of them
were unwilling to join a voluntary EPR. Main complementary actors
were the two recyclers that needed to upgrade their facilities, the
government as a regulator, the municipal cleaning departments
to collect the mattresses and researchers needed to develop new
knowledge and technologies. The latter group could contribute
during all stages of the product chain: from redesign to improving
recycling technologies, quality control of the materials and