AMS Institute takes on the urban challenge of transitioning from a linear model of using materials to a fully circular model. To achieve circularity in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (AMA), we must completely rethink and redesign the flow of resources, such as building materials, water, food and energy, that drive urban activities. The goal is to reuse resources rather than to dispose of them as we do now, making the whole economic model resilient and sustainable. To support this, we need to establish an integrated sustainable ecosystem, where the value for people, the planet and prosperity is not destructed but retained or created anew.
How we work on circular cities
Why do we focus on cities? Globally, despite taking up just 2% of the global landmass, our urban centers consume more than 75% of natural resources, are responsible for over 50% of solid waste and emit up to 60% of greenhouse gases. In a word, cities are bulk consumers of energy, water and materials. This makes them major contributors to problems such as resource depletion, pollution and climate change. But cities are also the centers of our economy, concentrating capital, data and talent. This makes urban areas ideal spaces to develop and demonstrate innovative circular solutions – and create impact that matters.
Amsterdam recognizes this and has set clear policy goals. The city of Amsterdam committed to reducing material consumption by 50% in 2030 and becoming fully circular by 2050. The city has positioned itself as a front-runner in circular innovation. AMS Institute actively contributes to this by focusing on material infrastructures, biobased construction and data & governance.
Material infrastructures in urban areas are the physical structures that are needed to deliver services and facilitate urban life. Within this topic, we develop circular solutions for digital infrastructure, energy infrastructure, roads & waterways in public space and related logistics. Together with infrastructure, construction is responsible for the bulk of material and waste flows through the city. This is why we support knowledge development to achieve 20% biobased construction of all new residential buildings in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Our expertise includes the development of biobased building materials, life cycle analysis and policy-building perspectives. Data & governance pertain to the identification, collection and creation of relevant data and monitoring systems to keep track of the circular economy transition in the city, assess impacts, support decisions and direct investments to where they accelerate the transition
The transition to a circular city requires a systems overhaul. This is why we continuously strive to develop integrated solutions in our research and innovation projects - especially when two transitions may be at odds with one another. Examples of integrated solutions are that we work on are: circular solar panels, biological soil improvement and circular logistics.
Urban Plastic Soup
Urban plastic waste is a major source of plastic pollution in rivers and oceans. This project aims to tackle its economic, socioeconomic, and environmental impact.
CircularIT
Circular Resource Planning for IT
Circular Solar Panels Zuidoost
In this project we are extending the lifetime of solar panels by giving discarded panels a second life in Amsterdam Southeast.
Replex testing in Canals (COMPRO)
At the Bajeskwartier in Amsterdam, BAM Advies & Engineering, NPSP and AMS Institute recently installed a test rig to evaluate the use of Re-plex as a building material.
REPAiR
Building a geo-design spatial mapping tool that connects waste streams to circular business opportunities.
Principal Investigators
Ellen van Bueren
TU DelftPeter Mooij
TU DelftJosephine van Zeben
Wageningen University & ResearchArjen van Nieuwenhuijzen
Witteveen+BosMark van Loosdrecht
TU DelftAlessandro Bozzon
TU DelftSietse de Vilder
Jantien Stoter
TU DelftMariet Sauerwein
AMS Institute, TU DelftRenzo Akkerman
Wageningen University & ResearchArjan van Timmeren
TU DelftJoppe van Driel
AMS InstituteBas van Vliet
Wageningen University & ResearchHuub Rijnaarts
Wageningen University & ResearchJoke Dufourmont
AMS InstituteProject members
Marina
Bos-de Vos
Jaco Quist
TU DelftMenno van Dijk
AMS InstituteChelsea Kaandorp
TU DelftEdo Abraham
TU DelftMariet Sauerwein
AMS Institute, TU DelftLydia Giokari
AMS InstitutePetar Koljensic
TU DelftRusne Sileryte
TU DelftJoop Suurmeijer
OrgaworldBas van Vliet
Wageningen University & ResearchFoteini Setaki
TU Delft & The New RawElizabeth Migoni Alejandre
TU DelftZhikai Peng
TU DelftIsabelle Snaauw
AMS InstituteRenzo Akkerman
Wageningen University & ResearchWei-Shan Chen
Waginingen University & ResearchJantien Stoter
TU DelftEveline van Leeuwen
AMS Institute & Wageningen University & ResearchLieke Dreijerink
AMS InstituteNadia Pourmohammadzia
TU DelftJoke Dufourmont
AMS InstituteRuud Balkenende
TU DelftPeter Mooij
TU DelftPablo van der Lugt
AMS Institute, TU DelftJosephine van Zeben
Wageningen University & ResearchArjen van Nieuwenhuijzen
Witteveen+BosTitus Venverloo
AMS Institute, TU Delft, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyRuben Vrijhoef
TU Delft, Hogeschool UtrechtEls Leclercq
TU DelftFabio Tejedor
Wageningen University and ResearchLjiljana Zlatanovic
TU DelftJoppe van Driel
AMS InstituteMonica Conthe Calvo
TU DelftArjan Hassing
Gemeente AmsterdamHuub Rijnaarts
Wageningen University & ResearchRomy Snijders
Dark Matter LabsMarc Boonstra
Delft University of TechnologyMary Greene
Wageningen UniversityTamara Streefland
MetabolicFrancesca Alberti
Esma Selen Aksoy
Renzo Akkerman
Wageningen University and ResearchArjan van Timmeren
TU DelftMaéva Dang
Anne van Stijn
TU DelftGerard van Bortel
TU DelftView
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