In each edition of our newsletter, Circular Shift will spotlight one of our esteemed project partners. This semester, we are happy to interview our lead partner: Rijkswaterstaat, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (NL).
Tell us about Rijkswaterstaat’s role in Circular Shift. What experience with circular public procurement does your organisation bring?
Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) fulfills a dual role within the project. On one hand, we act as the lead partner, taking responsibility for coordinating the project at a higher level. This includes ensuring that all partners are able to carry out their tasks effectively by managing the overall planning and budget. In addition, we report directly to the Interreg funding program, safeguarding the requirements and expectations of the funding authority throughout the project.
On the other hand, Rijkswaterstaat also contributes through the involvement of colleagues from the Sustainable Public Procurement (MVI) team. This team focuses on developing guidance for procurement processes that go beyond price considerations, taking into account environmental and social impacts to create added value. The experts within this team actively contribute to the project by sharing their experience in sustainable public procurement based on their involvement in different initiatives and projects and supporting the development of tools and methods for circular purchasing.
Why were laptops, phones, and workwear selected for focus in Circular Shift? What is the potential for circular procurement among these categories?
For this project, the categories ICT and textiles in workwear were selected for several reasons. First and foremost, it was necessary to establish a clear focus within the project. While the outcomes will certainly provide insights for circular procurement in general, creating practical tools and fostering collaboration across the value chain requires attention to the specific stakeholders and needs within defined sectors.
ICT and workwear textiles are product categories that are widely purchased across many organizations. This offers an opportunity to achieve significant impact by introducing changes in these areas. Moreover, these industries are among the most polluting in North-West Europe due to their size and scale. Addressing these sectors therefore contributes directly to reducing environmental impact.
Finally, the project builds on knowledge developed in previous initiatives, such as Interreg North Sea Region ProCirc, which also focused on ICT and workwear. By leveraging this existing expertise, we can accelerate progress and deliver meaningful results for circular procurement
What does Rijkswaterstaat hope to gain from the partnership with 9 other organisations in Circular Shift?
Rijkswaterstaat aims to advance the concept of circular procurement through close collaboration with nine partners—organizations that are either purchasing entities themselves or have a vested interest in promoting circular practices. We believe that through joint commitment, we can deliver practical solutions that enable circular procurement to scale across a wide range of organizations throughout the North-West Europe region.
We recognize the urgency of rethinking current procurement processes and are eager to contribute to this transformation. At the same time, we value international cooperation and are committed to supporting other organizations in improving their business practices. By working together, we can create tools and strategies that make sustainable and circular procurement not only possible but impactful.