TNO is a Dutch research organization that is working to advance the circular economy through innovation. Key requirements for a circular economy include distinguishing between resource types, cooperation across value chains, and adding quantitative data and analysis. TNO is working to bring economic value chains together through consortiums like BioConSept. They are also exploring new business cases that combine ambition with realism, such as redesigning product concepts through additive manufacturing or substituting critical materials. Both companies and research organizations have important roles to play in transitioning to a more circular economy.

1. Innovation
and the Circular Economy
Rob Weterings
12-12-12
The Hague
oktober 2011

2. Outline
Some words about TNO
Key requirements for a circular economy
Towards new business cases
What to do?

3. TNO:
State owned
Independent of public and private
interests
Established by law
Founded in 1932
± 4500 employees
Annual turnover ± 600 milj. € jr.
“Impact” is main driver
Mission
Connect people and knowledge to create innovations that boost the
sustainable competitiveness of industry and well-being of society.

4. TNO: is active in:
Healthy living
Industrial innovation
Defense, security and safety
Energy
Mobility
Built environment
Information society

5. TNO is very active in the European arena
Member of High level Group of ETP Sustainable Minerals and Resources (ETP-
SMR)
Co-development of EIP Raw Materials for a Modern Society:
Member of the High Level Steering Group
Member of the EIP WG 3 (regulations) and WG 5 (Internat. framework)
Participating in WP 1 (SMR) and WP2 (SusChem)
Proposing pilots (Ramintech)
Dutch Geological Survey is part of TNO
President of EuroGeoSurveys in 2013
Participant in SPIRE
From process industry/chemistry side
Active in EIT KIC-Climate, KIC-Energy, KIC ICT-Labs, organising up-coming
KIC Raw Materials consortium
Portfolio of European projects

6. Key requirements for a circular economy
Distinguish between resources
Cooperation in value chains
Add facts

7. Distinguish between resources
Metals & high tech
Biobased waste as
feedstock

8. A circular economy is all about cooperation
Company
Company
Chain
Sector
Society at large

9. Role for RTO’s:
Bringing the economic value chain together
Example: BioConSept consortium

10. Bringing the economic value chain together
Example: BioConSept consortium
Large Industrial partners (10)
ADM (NL), Clariant-SüdChemie (DE), Evonik (DE),
Fluor (NL), Lucite (UK), Novamont (IT), Poyry (FIN),
Proviron (BE), Solvay-Rhodia (B/Fr), Taminco (BE)
Small-Medium-sized Enterprizes (16):
Applicon (NL), Biochemize (ES), Bird Engineering (NL),
CLEA Technologies (NL), Designer Energy (ISR),
Dracosa (DE), Eucodis Bioscience (AUT), GTVT (SK),
Ingenza (UK), Q-Norm (ES), RTDS (AUT), SuniLei (ES),
TICON (DE), Tygron (NL), Weastra (SK), Zena (CZ)
Research & Technology Organizations (5):
Fraunhofer (DE), Leitat (ES), TNO (NL),
VITO (BE), VTT (FIN)

11. Add facts
* Global input / output analysis and material flow analysis
* Statistic analysis and time series
* Total cost of ownership and Life cycle analysis
Industries Y*,A Y*,B Y*,C Y*,D q
ZA,A ZA,B ZA,C ZA,D YA,A YA,B YA,C YA,D qA
Products
ZB,A ZB,B ZB,C ZB,D YB,A YB,B YB,C YB,D qD
ZC,A ZC,B ZC,C ZC,D YC,A YC,B YC,C YC,D qC EXIOBASE
ZD,A ZD,B ZD,C ZD,D YD,A YD,B YD,C YD,D qD •43 countries + rest of continents
W WA WB WC WD •130/160-180 sectors/products, 5000 traded
g gA gB gC gD products
CapitalA CB CC CD •80 resource extractions, land, water
C&L
LaborA LB LC LD •40 emissions
NAMEAA NAMEA B NAMEAC NAMEAD •Economic, material and energy flows including
AgricA AgricB AgricC AgricD
physical waste flows
Environ Ext
EnergyA EnergyB EnergyC EnergyD
MetalA MetalB MetalC MetalD
Available soon at www.exiobase.eu (version 1.0, for
MineralA MineralB MineralC MineralD
a not for profit fee)
LandA LandB LandC LandD

12. Why add facts?
1. Critical Materials in the Dutch Economy
(2010)
• Established tailor made list
• Identified relevant industry segments
2. Quick Scan for the Dutch Raw
Materials Memorandum (2011)
• Geopolitical analysis (HCSS)
• Importance of raw materials,
components and semi-finished products
3. Critical Material for the High-Tech
Industry (2012)
• Industry experiences many ‘other’
critical materials’ (steel, alloys, etc.)
• Value chain are vulnerable for may
other metals

13. Towards new business cases:
combine ambition with realism
100% circular economy
‘Hard’ technical and economic boundaries
Room for transition
Challenging
new business cases
Status quo: existing repair, re-use, recycle
100% linear economy

14. Towards new business cases:
scope of strategies
Substitute
Redesign
concept
Intensify
product use
Materials
recycling
Optimisation
production consumption

15. Redesign concept:
Additive manufacturing
LIGHTWEIGHT Fewer manufacturing constraints, great design freedom
Better products, faster design cycle, lower costs
Capability to integrate different materials in complex
ways
INTEGRATED
New functionality, integration of active/sensing
structures
Game changer in logistics
FREEFORM

16. Substitution: elements of hope
H C N O P S Cl non-metal elements
Na Mg Al Si elements of hope
K Ca Fe
Ti Cr Mn Cu
B F Ar Br critical elements
frugal elements Li Be Sc V Co Ni Zn Ga
Ge As Sr Y Zr Nb Mo PGM
Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te Ba REM
Ta W Re Au Hg Tl Pb Bi

17. Substitution: Getting Algae Ingredients Applied
Omega-3 & omega-6
Proteins
Pet-food Carbohydrates Algae meal
Meat replacer
Soluble fiber
Food Feed
Lipids
biodiesel
Sterols
High-value Bulk chemicals surfactants
chemicals
Phycobiliproteins
pigments
Astaxanthin Latex replacer oleoresins
Skin care products

18. Some observations for discussion
Companies:
Seek for innovative business model
Reconsider your position in value chains
RTO
Bring value chains together
Help companies to innovate
Government:
Remove limitations (legislation)
Impose standards for stimulating the circular economy