Joining forces to create a circular economy
We are rapidly depleting our natural resources. So we need to prevent waste and keep raw materials in circulation. ABN AMRO offers advice and loans to support companies that want to make their business circular.
Circular products becoming mainstream
More and more consumers are opting for circular products and companies are increasingly shifting to circular production. Circularity is becoming mainstream. You might even be doing more in this respect than you think. You return empty bottles, have your clothes repaired, share tools with your neighbours – it all contributes to a society without waste. And that’s exactly what circularity is all about.
What is a circular economy?
In a circular economy products and parts retain their value and raw materials are re-used. Discarded products are not thrown away, but repaired or recycled where possible, or turned into new products and raw materials. This creates a closed cycle without waste. The opposite of a circular economy is a linear economy, where production, use and disposal of products leads to massive waste of raw materials.
The 9 R’s of a sustainable circular economy
The letter ‘R’ plays a prominent role in the circular economy. Together, the 9 R’s can be used to describe circularity. From Refuse to Reuse and from Repair to Recycle. In all circular businesses, one or more of these R’s are central to their business models. Read what they stand for below. The order in which they are listed is not coincidental: it goes from requiring no effort (Refuse) to requiring a lot of work (Recover).
Refuse
The first question we should ask ourselves is: Is it really necessary to buy or develop a product, or to use a certain raw material? If it isn't: don't do it!
Joining forces for a circular world
Countless businesses in the Netherlands are working on initiatives that contribute to the circular economy. ABN AMRO supports these businesses by providing advice and financing. By joining forces, we can all do our bit to build a circular economy, which is gradually becoming a reality.
Circular economy & biodiversity
The shift to a circular economy will also make a positive difference for nature. By keeping raw materials in the loop, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent pollution. And so we do less damage to nature in our quest for virgin raw materials. This is good for our planet’s biodiversity, which has deteriorated dramatically as a result of human activity. ABN AMRO is committed to help stop and reverse biodiversity loss by working with clients and other stakeholders to address the root causes.
Product-as-a-Service
These days, more and more products are offered as a service. ABN AMRO is giving a boost to this development through advisory and financing.
Circular procurement
Being a large enterprise, ABN AMRO purchases a wide array of products and services. We have already made our procurement sustainable and with circular procurement we are going a step further.
Sustainable financing and investment solutions
By leveraging capital for sustainable impact, we can make a contribution together with our clients to the planet and people. That’s why we offer clients a range of sustainable financing and investment solutions.
