• Amsterdam Economic Board

• Wetenschappelijk

• Afval & Schoon,
• Duurzaamheid,
• Economie & Bedrijven

Implementing the circular economy in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

The interplay between market actors mediated by transition brokers

This paper analyses the interplay between regime and niche actors in implementing the circular economy through mediation by transition brokers. The study is based on ‘action research’ carried out in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Innovation science is adopted as theoretical approach. First, the analysis shows that more ambitious initiatives could be taken than by individual market actors. Whether these circular initiatives represent just incremental change—as other studies suggest—cannot be concluded. Rather, it is plausible to conceptualise the transition process as a continuous transformational change. Second, in creating circular initiatives, the interplay between regime and niche actors was evident but varied. Actors could team up more easily where their interests aligned. This conclusion corresponds with recent innovation literature, which emphasises the importance of linkages between processes at niche,
regime and landscape levels. Before generalising the results, similar studies in other regional contexts would be valuable.

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