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Chapter 3
Current Circular Economy Policies
When it comes to major changes, most people wait for their
national or local government to do the acting. That is unsurprising
considering governments can enforce changes through policy and
legislation. This chapter gives an overview of this conventional
public governance approach, while also highlighting European
and Dutch policies and instruments that contribute to circular
initiatives. Finally, the complementary steering model of network
governance is explained which can power the implementation of
circular eocnomy.
3.1 European Circular Economy Policies
The Netherlands is a member of the EU, and many regulatory
and economic measures concerning the circular economy are
formulated at the EU decision-making level. Member states are
expected to adopt the circular economy policies laid out by the
EU. Since the turn of the century, concerns have grown in the EU
about the overconsumption of resources and its environmental
impacts. Yet since 2015, Europe has been giving circularity issues
attention, exponentially so.
In 2015, the European Commission substantiated the concept
in its decision to adopt the Circular Economy Package. Called
Closing the Loop: An Action Plan for a Circular Economy, the
accompanying set of policy documents and legislative proposals