Dutch provinces

A group of Dutch provinces and public entities wanted to act on sustainability  challenges related to mobile phone usage. They aimed to reduce resource scarcity and to contribute to the reduction of electronic waste in developing countries. What Closing the Loop offered was a complete compensation of the their gadgets' waste footprint.

The challenge 

A group of Dutch provinces and public entities wanted to act on sustainability challenges related to mobile phone usage. They aimed to reduce resource scarcity and to contribute to the reduction of electronic waste in developing countries. What Closing the Loop offered was a complete compensation of the their gadgets' waste footprint.

Together with Closing the Loop, we fulfil a part of the circular demand of the provinces. Our organizations complemented each other well and our collaboration was spotless. This tender shows that circularity can easily be part of the procurement process. - Luuk Slaats, CEO at Centralpoint

The service 

Closing the Loop, together with Centralpoint, offered a circular compensation service for mobile phones. The service is simple yet effective: for every phone the province buys, Closing the Loop sees to it that a waste phone in Africa is collected and recycled.

The solution

By preventing phones from becoming waste in Africa, Closing the Loop’s approach ensures less pollution and creates income for people in developing countries.

The result

Closing the Loop has made 3,000 new smartphones 'waste-neutral' through a procurement process. We do this by collecting 3,000 scrap phones on behalf of the clients. We showcased this deal in many communication expressions.

We also ensured that the phones disposed by the government are made ready for the second hand market via our partners in a sustainable way.

By paying for the completely broken phones, we convert electronic waste into local jobs, reusable raw materials and concrete circular results for the Dutch provinces.

This approach was nominated for the national MVI KoopWijsPrijs 2018. The jury recognized the strong collaboration between the provinces, Centralpoint and Closing the Loop.

Are you interested in getting started on circularity?

Like the Dutch provinces, environmental services and more than 40 other organizations, you can combine positive social, environmental and PR benefits by using the services of Closing the Loop. Become a circular pioneer. Get in touch via 020 75 26 506 or info [at] closingtheloop.eu 

For more information about this collaboration see the website of PianOo.