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Innovation Agents on a mission

Every month, an innovation agent from ChemistryNL gives you insight into his/her daily work. Read the blogs of:Martin van Dord, Caroli Buitenhuis, René Reijtenbagh, Eric van Sprang, Marco Tibaldi and Robert-Jan Lamers.

This month:MArtin van Dord

Time I would rather have spent differently

As an innovation coach, I have been working for years on stimulating sustainable applications of plastics. At NRK and ChemistryNL, I work with companies on a circular future in which plastics are not a problem, but part of the solution. My mission: ensuring that plastic products have the lowest possible environmental impact and are optimally recycled. Not waiting, but leading the way.

I believe in the power of innovation. In the ability of entrepreneurs to innovate, provided you offer them the right support at the right time. And I provide that support with conviction: knowledge, inspiration, networking, guidance. These are not empty words, but concrete help to realize circular ambitions. Because sustainability does not arise in policy notes, but on the work floor of companies that work hard every day on better, cleaner, smarter solutions.
Yet, over the past two years, I have been forced to spend much less time on what my heart lies in: helping companies move forward. The reason? Policy development. Legislation. Regulations. The Netherlands was working on a national circular plastics standard and a proposed plastics levy that, however well-intentioned, threatened to backfire.

What seemed like a boost to circularity on paper, in practice meant that production would be moved abroad – away from our control, and often also from our higher sustainability standards. Instead of supporting the circular frontrunners, we would undermine them. And so I suddenly found myself spending less time in factories and innovation labs, and more time at policy meetings, round tables and in discussions with civil servants and politicians.

The good news: the concerns have been heard. After many discussions and consultations, politicians in The Hague have come to the conclusion that the proposed standard and levy in this form would not have the desired effect. They have now been taken off the table. This has created space for what really matters: accelerating the transition, together with the industry.

And I am happy about that. Because now I can spend my time on what really matters: helping companies to innovate circularly, to produce smarter, cleaner and more sustainably. And I no longer do this against the tide, but with a level playing field. The ambition is still high, but the circumstances have improved.

So if you want to innovate with polymers. I am happy to help you.

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