Foreword

Imagine if regions across the world joined forces to transition to a circular economy—sharing strategies, successes, and solutions. The pace of change could increase dramatically.

Why regions? Because they are close to the people, businesses, and systems where real change happens. We believe up to 70–80% of the circular transition can be organized regionally.

Over the past decade, the Frisian region has become a European frontrunner. Through the Circular Friesland Association, our public and private partners have worked together to build a future-proof regional economy.

Now, in collaboration with Circle Economy, we present the first Dutch regional Circular Gap Report — a data-driven strategy to measure our progress and close the gap by 2035. This report is more than a tool for Friesland. It’s a blueprint for other regions ready to take action.

We believe the biggest opportunities lie in working together. By exchanging insights, scaling what works, and aligning efforts, we can move faster and further.

So here’s our call to action: analyse your own regional circularity gap. Join us in creating a global network of ambitious, impact-driven regions.

The circular transition is urgent. Together, we can accelerate it.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Circular Friesland—an impressive milestone that reflects the region’s ongoing commitment to advancing the circular economy. We’re proud to be working alongside them on this important project: Circularity Gap Report (CGR) Friesland.

The CGR Friesland builds on the work we’ve done over the past years in the Netherlands and internationally. It offers valuable insights into how Friesland is progressing toward circularity and helps identify the opportunities and challenges ahead. We’re especially excited to be launching this CGR on a digital platform for the first time, making it more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.

This collaboration represents more than just a report—it’s the beginning of deeper cooperation between regions, with Friesland setting an inspiring example for others to follow. We are grateful to be part of this journey and look forward to continuing to work together toward a more circular and resilient future.