On 19th March, during a high profile regional event on Circular Economy, our CTB partners from the Province of Drenthe hosted two engaging workshops. Participants, including housing corporations and other key stakeholders, discussed the practical opportunities in circular building as well as circular biobased construction and procurement.
Transiton to Circular Economy
The "Emmen: Circulair Denken & Doen" event in Drenthe (NL) was dedicated to exploring and promoting the transition towards a circular economy—especially in the fields of construction, urban development, and environmental management. Moving beyond theory, more than 100 participants from all sectors engaged in hands-on workshops and discussions at the Green Campus. The main question: how sustainabilty can be implemented in everyday projects so that circular building, resource efficiency and renewable materials are practical solutions.
CTB and the Province of Drenthe facilitated workshops at the Circular Economy event in Emmen
Practical examples & insights
One of the key aspects of the event the emphasis on real examples, addresses the challenges of building structures that are not only eco-friendly but also resilient, affordable and adaptable for the future.
The project 'Drenthe Woont Circulair' served as an important practical example of how this can be achieved. During one of the workshops, Mimoent Bennali from the Province of Drenthe, highlighted the CTB project before leading a highly engaging session on various aspects of circularity in the construction sector. Several important insights were shared as experts Ruth Mourik, Frank van der Burg (Domesta), and Martin Huiskes (Architects Voormorgen) clearly demonstrated that circular building isn’t a distant vision, but a practice that’s already underway. Together with the audience the following lessons were discussed in depth:
- Collaborate across all levels
It’s essential to keep implementers, management, and board members continuously connected and informed. - Start small and evaluate
Begin with manageable steps, evaluate the progress, and then expand. It doesn’t have to be perfect from the start! - Reflect on individual contribution
Reflect on how your role can add value to a circular construction economy.
CTB at the Circular Economy Event, Emmen 2025
Ingredients for Circular bio-based building & procurement
In another interactive session, participants were encouraged to explore the key ingredients and indicators necessary for circular construction projects. The workshop provided practical tools and strategies to enhance circularity and biobased approaches within organizations:
Rosalynne de Beauvesier Watson kicked off by presenting the “Drenthe Circular Standard”—a collaborative effort involving the Province of Drenthe, several municipalities, and other regional partners, where circular building plays a vital role.
Next, Jos Idema (Building Balance) highlighted the essential ingredients and indicators needed to successfully transition to circular and biobased building methods. Then Titus Mars (Daad) shared practical examples on how clients and partners can be motivated to engage in circular practices.
After the presentations, groups were formed to work on identifying the crucial ingredients and indicators for circular building projects. This led to valuable exchanges and fresh insights.
Circular Building - From theory to practice
Sharing experiences & knowledge
The workshops at the Green Campus formed part of a full programme focussing on a circular economy, and were designed to inspire and equip attendees with the knowledge, tools, and collaborative spirit needed to transform traditional building practices.
The CTB consortium also continues to onderline the importance of coming together and sharing experiences to make real progress towards creating a sustainable, future-proof construction climate.
Top photo, photos 2 & 5: Chantal Eelen
Photos 3 & 4: Hanneke Wuite