AMS Institute takes on the urban challenge of transitioning from a linear model of using materials to a fully circular model. To achieve circularity in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (AMA), we must completely rethink and redesign the flow of resources, such as building materials, water, food and energy, that drive urban activities. The goal is to reuse resources rather than to dispose of them as we do now, making the whole economic model resilient and sustainable. To support this, we need to establish an integrated sustainable ecosystem, where the value for people, the planet and prosperity is not destructed but retained or created anew.
How we work on circular cities
Why do we focus on cities? Globally, despite taking up just 2% of the global landmass, our urban centers consume more than 75% of natural resources, are responsible for over 50% of solid waste and emit up to 60% of greenhouse gases. In a word, cities are bulk consumers of energy, water and materials. This makes them major contributors to problems such as resource depletion, pollution and climate change. But cities are also the centers of our economy, concentrating capital, data and talent. This makes urban areas ideal spaces to develop and demonstrate innovative circular solutions – and create impact that matters.
Amsterdam recognizes this and has set clear policy goals. The city of Amsterdam committed to reducing material consumption by 50% in 2030 and becoming fully circular by 2050. The city has positioned itself as a front-runner in circular innovation. AMS Institute actively contributes to this by focusing on material infrastructures, biobased construction and data & governance.
Material infrastructures in urban areas are the physical structures that are needed to deliver services and facilitate urban life. Within this topic, we develop circular solutions for digital infrastructure, energy infrastructure, roads & waterways in public space and related logistics. Together with infrastructure, construction is responsible for the bulk of material and waste flows through the city. This is why we support knowledge development to achieve 20% biobased construction of all new residential buildings in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Our expertise includes the development of biobased building materials, life cycle analysis and policy-building perspectives. Data & governance pertain to the identification, collection and creation of relevant data and monitoring systems to keep track of the circular economy transition in the city, assess impacts, support decisions and direct investments to where they accelerate the transition
The transition to a circular city requires a systems overhaul. This is why we continuously strive to develop integrated solutions in our research and innovation projects - especially when two transitions may be at odds with one another. Examples of integrated solutions are that we work on are: circular solar panels, biological soil improvement and circular logistics.
Urban Plastic Soup
Urban plastic waste is a major source of plastic pollution in rivers and oceans. This project aims to tackle its economic, socioeconomic, and environmental impact.
CircularIT
Circular Resource Planning for IT
Circular Solar Panels Zuidoost
In this project we are extending the lifetime of solar panels by giving discarded panels a second life in Amsterdam Southeast.
Replex testing in Canals (COMPRO)
At the Bajeskwartier in Amsterdam, BAM Advies & Engineering, NPSP and AMS Institute recently installed a test rig to evaluate the use of Re-plex as a building material.
REPAiR
Building a geo-design spatial mapping tool that connects waste streams to circular business opportunities.
Principal Investigators
![](/media/original_images/Ellen_van_Bueren_large.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Ellen van Bueren
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Josephine_van_Zeben.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Josephine van Zeben
Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/Persbericht_ArjenvNieuwenhuijzen-AssProf_JelmerJeuring.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Arjen van Nieuwenhuijzen
Witteveen+Bos![](/media/original_images/Mark_van_Loosdrecht_Profile_Photo.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Mark van Loosdrecht
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/AlessandroBozzon.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Alessandro Bozzon
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/002KL__Jantine_Stoter_20x20_INDYMAH2017_klein1.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_focal_area-1207%2C1084%2C2308%2C2100_upscale.jpg)
Jantien Stoter
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/renzo.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Renzo Akkerman
Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/A._van_Timmeren.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Arjan van Timmeren
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Profielfoto_wur.JPG.210x210_q85_crop_focal_area-1268%2C1582%2C2292%2C2992_upscale.jpg)
Bas van Vliet
Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/Huub_Rijnaarts.png.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.png)
Huub Rijnaarts
Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/Joke_Dufourmont.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Joke Dufourmont
AMS InstituteProject members
![](/media/original_images/IMG_9094-b.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Marina
Bos-de Vos
![](/media/original_images/1608743382563.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Jaco Quist
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/4N2A9663b-hr2.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Menno van Dijk
AMS Institute![](/media/original_images/0-11.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Chelsea Kaandorp
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/0-12.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Edo Abraham
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/_MG_4711a_klein.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_focal_area-289%2C172%2C575%2C275_upscale.jpg)
Mariet Sauerwein
AMS Institute, TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Lydia_Giokari-Colour.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Lydia Giokari
AMS Institute![](/media/original_images/P1040679_-_Petar_Koljensic.JPG.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Petar Koljensic
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/IMG_0173.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_focal_area-1471%2C1375%2C1933%2C1770_upscale.jpg)
Rusne Sileryte
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/0-19.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Joop Suurmeijer
Orgaworld![](/media/original_images/Profielfoto_wur.JPG.210x210_q85_crop_focal_area-1268%2C1582%2C2292%2C2992_upscale.jpg)
Bas van Vliet
Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/Foteini-Setaki.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Foteini Setaki
TU Delft & The New Raw![](/media/original_images/elizabeth.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Elizabeth Migoni Alejandre
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/zhikai.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Zhikai Peng
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Isabelle_AMS.png.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.png)
Isabelle Snaauw
AMS Institute![](/media/original_images/renzo.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Renzo Akkerman
Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/GetMedia.ashx-9.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Wei-Shan Chen
Waginingen University & Research![](/media/original_images/002KL__Jantine_Stoter_20x20_INDYMAH2017_klein1.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_focal_area-1207%2C1084%2C2308%2C2100_upscale.jpg)
Jantien Stoter
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/WEB_AMSinstitute_IrisDuvekot_25May2023_0603_.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_focal_area-3052%2C2128%2C3384%2C3393_upscale.jpg)
Eveline van Leeuwen
AMS Institute & Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/signal-2022-09-19-112557_004.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Lieke Dreijerink
AMS Institute![](/media/original_images/Nadia.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Nadia Pourmohammadzia
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Joke_Dufourmont.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Joke Dufourmont
AMS Institute![](/media/original_images/csm_Balkenende__Ruud__821fba9fb1.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Ruud Balkenende
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Peter_Mooij.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Peter Mooij
TU Delft![Speakers Academy - Walter Kallenbach](/media/original_images/Pablo_van_der_Lugt_-_Speakers_Academy-Walter_Kallenbach_3.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_focal_area-1476%2C605%2C2953%2C1210_upscale.jpg)
Pablo van der Lugt
AMS Institute, TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Josephine_van_Zeben.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Josephine van Zeben
Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/Persbericht_ArjenvNieuwenhuijzen-AssProf_JelmerJeuring.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Arjen van Nieuwenhuijzen
Witteveen+Bos![](/media/original_images/Titus_Venverloo.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Titus Venverloo
AMS Institute, TU Delft, Massachusetts Institute of Technology![Ruben Vrijhoef](/media/original_images/ruben_vrijhoef.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Ruben Vrijhoef
TU Delft, Hogeschool Utrecht![](/media/original_images/els-05.04.2018-263x300.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Els Leclercq
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Fabio_Tejedor.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Fabio Tejedor
Wageningen University and Research![](/media/original_images/LZlatanovic.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Ljiljana Zlatanovic
TU Delft![Joppe van Driel](/media/original_images/Joppe.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Joppe van Driel
AMS Institute![](/media/original_images/Monica_Conthe_Calvo.png.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.png)
Monica Conthe Calvo
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/arjan_hassing.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Arjan Hassing
Gemeente Amsterdam![](/media/original_images/Huub_Rijnaarts.png.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.png)
Huub Rijnaarts
Wageningen University & Research![](/media/original_images/1669829195399.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Romy Snijders
Dark Matter Labs![](/media/original_images/Tamara_Streefland.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Tamara Streefland
Metabolic![](/media/original_images/Francesca_for_AMS30.png.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.png)
Francesca Alberti
![](/media/original_images/Esma_Selen_Aksoy.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Esma Selen Aksoy
![](/media/original_images/0-15_0JQcOvO.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Renzo Akkerman
Wageningen University and Research![](/media/original_images/1677015885996.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Kyra Koning
![](/media/original_images/A._van_Timmeren.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Arjan van Timmeren
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/Maeva.jpg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Maéva Dang
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/0-5.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Anne van Stijn
TU Delft![](/media/original_images/0-6.jpeg.210x210_q85_crop_upscale.jpg)
Gerard van Bortel
TU DelftView
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