Circulair Friesland Association (Vereniging Circulair Friesland, VCF)

Friesland is a remarkable region in the North of the Netherlands. A region known for its sport talents like iceskater Sven Kramer and top gymnast Epke Zonderland. And it’s nature with the World Heritage Wadden Sea and two Dark Sky Parks. But also where the world’s very first fish migration river will soon enable fish to swim from salt to fresh water and vice versa.

We Frisians, are determined to be the most circular region of Europe and stand out as a driver in the transition to a circular society. The region has a sense of community (mienskip), international high-tech businesses and three scientific knowledge and research centers. Also, Europe’s first test center for circular plastics was initiated and located in our region. In Friesland, countless companies, scientists and experts from all over the world are together addressing issues of sustainability, water and dairy technology. Empowered by association Circulair Friesland.

Circular Friesland

In 2015, 7 companies and 2 government agencies took the initiative to merge their circular ambitions and take concrete action. This has now grown into the association Circulair Friesland with more than 100 active members coming from the Frisian business community, education, government and civil society organizations who want to align their circular ambitions and work together to accelerate their realization on more than 100 innovative projects amongst the region.

John Vernooij – Pioneering, experimenting, innovating. John Vernooij, entrepreneurial son and director of waste processor Omrin, never gets tired of it in his search for the perfect cycle. In 2019, Omrin was voted the most sustainable company in the Netherlands. Since 2016 he has been chairman of the Association Circulair Friesland, where Omrin is one of the founders. Vernooij is also chairman of the BeStart foundation, a collective that offers help to starting entrepreneurs working on sustainability. In the national Plastic Pact steering committee, he brings expertise on sorting and recycling.

Janneke Stuive-Stelpstra – Janneke is passionate about working towards a circular economy. Through her various projects she works with students and young professionals towards a better world. In her work she combines the academic knowledge with a hands-on-mentality. In one of the initiatives, DORP; students and companies develop circulair prototypes for the region together. Janneke her work is focused on working towards a region of prosperity, through the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with the SDG House, projects like DORP and dialog sessions with participants from the triple helix.

 

Nick Boersma – Nick has been committed to a circular transition in Friesland for years. He is driven by an ambition to develop the region and contribute to solutions to the climate problem. Nick is project manager at Circular Friesland. He supports entrepreneurs in the development of circular business models and products. He is also committed to create a circular building economy and realise procurement policy at governments that contributes to the circular transition. From his previous role at municipality Leeuwarden, capital of Friesland, he developed the first implementation program in Friesland for circular economy for municipality Leeuwarden.