1. Natural Capital and a Circular economy
Wijnand Broer
6 March 2019
Publication on Natural Capital and Circular economy for the Dutch Ministry of Environment in 2016
How can Natural Capital benefit the Circular economy and the other way around?

2. From the Dutch Action Plan Circular Economy 2019-2023: The 8 R strategies in a Circular economy
Ranging from Rethink, including Refuse and Reduce (reduction of both the number of products and materials per product) to Recover
Source: NEN, 2019

3. Nature based solutions  
Natural capital base
Biobased materials
Ecosystem services
Nature based solutions
Biomimicry
Abiotic materials
Natural Capital contributes to most of these circular strategies
By offering nature based solutions, including the use of ecosystem services, biobased materials and biomimicry, especially feeding into Rethink
And by offering abiotic materials and renewable energy sources, feeding into virtually every strategy

4.    Natural capital base Biobased materials Ecosystem services
Nature based solutions
Biomimicry
Abiotic materials
A truly future proof circular economy will in its turn benefit the natural capital it depends on,
by reducing the use on non-renewable materials, also reducing pressures on natural capital from exploration and mining
by conserving and strenthening the natural capital needed for a long term delivery the services and materials needed
Reduced resource use
& pressures on NC
Ecosystem service strengthening of NC
Biobased material
strengthening of NC
Natural capital base

5.    NC NC Natural capital base Biobased materials Ecosystem services
Nature based solutions
Biomimicry
Abiotic materials NC NC
This will result in a truly circular system, viable in the long term
This does however, not happen by itself; action is needed
Reduced resource use
& pressures on NC
Ecosystem service strengthening of NC
Biobased material
strengthening of NC
Natural capital base

6. Systems approach – Recognise relations - Prevent trade-offs
Both concepts, natural capital and circular economy, rely on a systems approach:
taking into account system relations, a focus on value and preventing potential trade-offs
Looking beyond supply chains, policy domains and countries
Tools can be linked or integrated, like the Natural Capital Protocol and the Dutch CIRCO approach
Supply chains – Sectors – Policy domains - Countries

7.    Natural capital base Biobased materials Ecosystem services
Nature based solutions
Biomimicry
Abiotic materials
Rethink
Lignine binder from wood, grass and straw as a substitute for oil based bitumen in asfalt
Lignine as binder a factor 7-8 more value than biomass as a fuel
Production at lower temperatures + higher functionality
Example from the Action plan Circular Economy (if time):
Lignine as a binder in asfalt, replacing half of the oil based bitumen ( ton/year in NL):
A Rethink strategy, depending on Natural capital and potentially benefitting Natural capital, if managed for the long term
Reduced resource use
& pressures on NC
Ecosystem service strengthening of NC
Biobased material
strengthening of NC
Natural capital base

8. Thank you
Wijnand Broer