We are Circular@Scale, an accelerator program dedicated to circular construction scale-ups and their business partners.
Our program is initiated by ScaleUpNation and the Powered by Meaning Group and supported by the Goldschmeding Foundation, Innovation Quarter and InvestNL.
We believe that entrepreneurship and the circular economy are a match made in heaven. Innovative entrepreneurs that truly scale can shift the needle and become the role models for an entire sector, driving a change that is long overdue.
But we also believe that entrepreneurs can’t do it alone. That’s why involving various stakeholders is crucial. The current system shifts only if we take an ecosystem approach. This realisation, as well as months of industry research, essentially planted the seed for the Circular@Scale program we have today.
Originally kicked off by circular economy guru Guido Braam, the Circular@Scale team has since grown to a core team of 8 circular enthusiasts, and is directed by circular construction expert Wouter van Twillert.
2021 marks the first year of our program. So far we have partnered with three landmark co-creators, have received support from three program sponsors, connected to countless contractors, construction clients, industry experts and ambassadors – and most of all: we built a cohort of eight truly innovative circular scale-ups.
Meet the team
About Circular Construction
The built environment is a major source of waste
Construction is one of most resource intensive industries worldwide.
In the Netherlands alone the built environment accounts for 40% of all the material and energy consumption. Material waste streams aggregate to 4 million tons per year, while there is a potential value of endless reuse.
We need change now!
Looming material scarcity and uncontrollable waste problems necessitate a different approach. The circular economy provides this potential value of endless reuse. It preserves natural ecosystems, reduces carbon emissions and creates smart and sustainable urban areas.
At the same time, circular change in the industry is slow due to reasons of the split incentive, lack of financial structures, cost based tender processes, limited use of data and slow building processes.
Circular scale-ups can drive the change
These challenges provide opportunities for innovative, technology-driven enterprises in the circular construction industry.
Many innovative circular initiatives exist but only those that scale will move the needle in terms of impact and economic value creation. Our program aims at developing circular scale-ups in a circular construction environment addressing both the scale-ups and their context.
