Reclaimed from the sea in the mid-twentieth century, Flevoland is the youngest province in the Netherlands. Looking ahead to 2030, the province has set its sights on a future where the circular economy takes center stage. Commissioned by the province, BC1® has highlighted six circular pioneers who are leading the way.
Six pioneers, six sectors
The featured initiatives cover diverse sectors. In Almere, Cirwinn is turning old concrete into brand-new concrete. According to the company, their proprietary debris separation and washing installation is unique in Europe. Old concrete goes in, clean sand and gravel come out, which is then used to mix fresh concrete. Cirwinn intentionally operates within a 30-kilometer radius of its plant. In fact, their concrete was used to build bridges for the Floriade expo.
In Emmeloord, Startblock builds houses using a process that feels more like car manufacturing than traditional construction. Wooden panels are assembled into a complete three-story home in just six days, before being transported to the construction site on a flatbed trailer. Homeowners are provided with a materials passport that details every single component used.
On Urk, Skin for Skin extracts collagen from fish skins. Their patented extraction process is completely free of chemicals and heat. Today, the resulting collagen is used in premium beauty products.
In Swifterbant, Johan Leenders runs the Oranjehoen farm. His 17,000 chickens are fed strictly on rejected vegetables from local arable farming. In turn, the chicken manure goes back to enrich the fields, completely eliminating the need for antibiotics.
Meanwhile, the Practoraat CRE in Lelystad is ensuring that circularity becomes a core part of the curriculum, spanning from vocational to higher education. During internships, students map out the circular footprint of local businesses. It gives companies practical insights, and students get a real taste of what a circular economy actually looks like on the work floor.
How the right laws can spark a breakthrough
The story of Retourmatras in Lelystad shows exactly why government policy makes or breaks these initiatives. The company has been recycling mattresses since 2009 and now processes a million of them every year. In just 50 seconds, a single mattress is dismantled into four distinct material streams.
For eight long years, the business case simply didn’t add up. Incineration cost €100 per ton, while recycling cost €300. In response, Retourmatras successfully lobbied lawmakers for a ban on burning mattresses. Once the ban was enacted, the business model finally took off.
Today, IKEA owns a one-third stake in the company. Fifteen European countries are looking to replicate the system, and there is growing interest from the US and Canada. Since October 2025 Lelystad is home to a pioneering facility that chemically recycles polyurethane from old mattresses back into polyol, which can then be used to make brand-new mattresses. This technology is a global first.
2030
By 2030, Flevoland aims to be a leading supplier of raw materials for the circular economy, both within and beyond its provincial borders. The pioneers are already here. What they need now is physical space, agile policymaking, and an education system that aligns with their vision.