Launching a circular shift for public procurement

On 25–26 July 2025, the Circular Shift project kicked off in Utrecht. Circular Shift aims to make circular procurement the norm across public organisations in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Ireland by embedding sustainable strategies, such as repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing, into everyday purchases of products like phones, laptops, and workwear. Led by Rijkswaterstaat and including ACR+ in the consortium, the project brings together partners to strengthen value chain collaboration, overcome barriers like limited cross-departmental engagement and impact measurement, and empower public bodies to drive organisational change and advance circularity.

Over the two-day meeting, representatives from the ten project partners defined their organisational values and ways of working, while also beginning to plan partner involvement in upcoming activities on value chain collaboration, training, and impact monitoring. On the second day, associated partners joined a masterclass on the role of transition brokers, delivered by Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Cramer. Transition brokers are individuals or organisations that help facilitate systemic change, especially in complex processes such as the shift from a linear to a circular economy. They guide innovation by connecting stakeholders, building trust, and encouraging the adoption of new practices like circular procurement.

More information about the project is available on its website.