1. Linking Biodiversity and Natural Ccapital to CE
Opportunities and policies for using B&NC sustainably
Mark van Oorschot – PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
6 March 2019

2. Opportunities to include NC in circular business models
A circular economy is no perpetuum mobile.
Input of natural Capital to the CE cycle is crucial to “fuel” the whole process (bio-based resources and energy).
Link between CE and NC – it is a two-sided relationship with dependencies and impacts (see presentation Wijnand)
Ecosystems provide economy with resources
Production exerts impacts on ecosystems
Opportunities for business
- Bio-based renewable resources - Substitution of fossil and non-renewable (for instance plastics and biofuel)
- Efficiency gains in processing bio-based material for re-use
Benefits for nature and society
- Efficiency gains result in lower need for primary resources
Less expansion of resource production areas (deforestation-free supply-chains)
Maintain nature’s benefits for people (multiple societal benefits of natural capital)
All such opportunities and benefits can be used in product value proposition
So Biodiversity & Natural Capital (B&NC) are to profit from CE an vice versa => But how?
Proper policy incentives required to make circular business models based on natural capital viable.
Take care that inputs from ecosystems are sustainable and within boundaries.
6 March 2019

3. Government provides the Enabling environment
Clear position
motivating policy targets and norms
Infrastructure determines routines
support market standards for sustainable NC use
Use of financial instruments
reward resource-use efficiency and carbon-benefits (taxes, carbon price, natural capital account)
Show progress
transparent reporting on supply-chains and resource-use (business and national)
Dynamic regulation for each phase of the transition
from niche to mainstream
Government incentives to include B&NC in CE initiatives:
Rethink tax system: tax resource-use and CO2-performance (instead of tax on labour)
Make sustainable production the new normal – let prices reflect the full ”societal” costs
Promote use of (voluntary) market standards for sustainable production
Transparent reporting on environmental dependencies, circular resource use and impacts: both business and national accounting
From niche to mainstream - level-playing-field for all producers in the EU
Mark van Oorschot PBL - Nov 6th 2013

4. Policy targets and action for B&NC in CE
EU – Closing the loop (2015)
Reduce environmental pressure
Secure supply of renewable resources (bio-based)
Link to “Living within planetary boundaries”
NL – Program / National accord / Action agenda ( )
Central target: increase resource efficiency and reduce use of raw resources
Co-benefits for climate change ambition
Promote sustainable use of natural capital
Transition agenda’s: construction; biomass & food; plastic; consumption; industry
Monitoring and reporting
Actions – transition process – effects
Resource use – natural capital accounting - footprints - supply-chain risks
So where are we now?
European package clearly reflected in Dutch national policy approach
Still in early phase of circular thinking
6 March 2019

5. Case: Wood use for building and construction
Innovation and substitution
Recycling & re-use of building materials
Wood instead of concrete
CO2-reduction from substitution
Availability of primary resources
Tropical wood use
Substitute with new wood types
‘Use them or loose them’
Certified forest management
Require use of market standards
Deforestation-free supply-chain
The case of wood use shows the interplay between business initiatives for more circular and bio-based production and the government role in setting the right enabling environment
6 March 2019

6. or #PBLNL
6 March 2019

7. Dependencies: Nature’s benefits to society
Earth matters !
Production services
Wood
Food
Fibres
Water
Provisioning services
Soil fertility
Pollination
…….
Cultural services
6 March 2019