Publication: New research maps the policy instruments that can steer the use of biomaterials in the Netherlands
New research by TheRockGroup, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), shows that the Netherlands already has a broad set of policy instruments to advance the bioeconomy in place, but that they too often work against each other, making them less effective.
The 2026 report ‘Onderzoek naar effectieve beleidsinstrumenten voor biogrondstoffen’ (Research into effective policy instruments for biobased raw materials) addresses the question: which policy instruments can contribute to a climate-just, sustainable and resilient use of biomaterials in the Netherlands towards 2050, with specific attention to cascading, total use and demand reduction?
The research focuses on two streams that were chosen for their volume, policy relevance and contrasting challenges: wood, and residual streams that are currently mainly composted (source-separated organic waste and biowaste).
As part of the research, TheRockGroup inventoried and assessed Dutch and international policy instruments, held stakeholder consultations on the wood chain and on compostable materials with processors, municipalities, trade associations, knowledge institutes and policymakers, and built a system map of the biobased raw materials chain using causal loop diagrams. International best practices from Flanders, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Sweden and France served as a reference. The research was guided by a committee of policy officials from LVVN, Rijkswaterstaat, I&W and EZK.
The main challenges and opportunities
The report identifies eight central challenges and translates them into five policy options, assessed on effectiveness, efficiency, feasibility and fairness:
- Raising the minimum standard for compostable materials, so that the already permitted but unused route of digestation is followed
- Raising the minimum standard for wood from incineration to recycling, coupled with investment support for recycling capacity.
- Simplifying end-of-waste status and permit processes for innovative processing, for both wood and compostable materials.
- Activating the existing separation obligation for bio-waste for companies, which is currently hardly enforced.
- Stimulating financial valuation of the (positive) social effects of biogenic flows.
What stands out is that four of the five options are built on instruments that already exist. The most promising route is not new legislation, but activating, tightening or repairing what is already on the books.
The next steps towards a circular bioeconomy
The options work best as a coherent package. The report groups them into two pilot clusters: activating existing policy in the short term (the minimum standards for organic waste and wood, plus enforcement of the separation duty and better monitoring) and adjusting the underlying rules of the system in the medium term (waste status, permitting and the financial valuation of societal benefits). For each step, the report sets out which ministry, implementing body and level of government, holds the lever.
For questions and remarks about the research please contact Cas Smitsmans at cas.smitsmans@therockgroup.biz.
For media inquiries, please contact connect@therockgroup.biz
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