Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry is comprehensive. A global industry with complex chain relationships. The Dutch manufacturing industry focuses primarily on the processing of raw materials and semi-finished products and the assembly of components. From the production of transport equipment and electronics to machine construction and metalworking, circularity is also playing an important role in the manufacturing industry. Within this, specific attention is paid to capital equipment: the production of tools, machines and devices for various end markets. Three product groups are also in the spotlight: wind farms, solar parks and climate installations.

The manufacturing industry provides added value of 47 billion euros in the Netherlands. That's great, but it also has a downside. Each year, the manufacturing industry deploys 277 million kilotons of new materials. The activities of the manufacturing industry are also associated with CO2 emissions of 24 megatons. To stay within the limits of our earth, we face the challenge of drastically reducing the environmental impact of the manufacturing industry. Many products have a relatively high value and offer numerous circular business opportunities. That's where innovations in circular design come in.

Introducing as-a-service business models. Refurbishment and remanufacturing. The use of ICT for predictive maintanance and additional data services. Applying smart industry concepts beyond sourcing and manufacturing. The use of new materials and manufacturing technologies. These are just a few examples of manufacturing innovations that are proven to help reduce impact. On this page, we share what we all know and are learning about circularity in manufacturing.