Towards more circular material flows at RAI Amsterdam

Abstract

RAI Amsterdam is an international exhibition and congress organisation that organises and facilitates events. They aim to reduce their waste generation to zero, but have no clear overview over the waste they generate. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the incoming and outgoing flows of RAI, evaluate these on their circularity, and find feasible measures to increase the circularity of these material flows. To do this, the concepts of Circular Economy, Material Flow Analysis and a simplified feasibility assessment were combined.

The first part of this research examined the material flows and how RAI is related to them. This showed that there is insufficient information on the materials entering RAI because of a lack of procurement monitoring. Additionally, time pressure and insufficient space make it difficult to work in a circular way. Investigating the material flows in more detail provided insights in how the waste is generated and processed. Of these flows residual materials, wood, unsorted building and construction materials, carpet, and paper, cardboard and foils are the largest volume and show promising improvement opportunities. Therefore, these flows were evaluated on their circularity and analysed in more detail. This showed that most materials are still incinerated or recycled, are only used for a short time, and travel long distances before they are processed.

Generally, to increase their circularity, RAI should first clarify its priorities and communicate these through the organisation, they should also collaborate with other event locations, create more time and space for circularity and make (more) circular options more attractive for exhibitors. To decrease material flows RAI should redesign its procurement system or create a new one that facilitates circular procurement. Furthermore, they could e.g. use carpet tiles more often. To increase the reuse of materials RAI should collaborate with a company that reuses materials from demolition activities, and build more circular in the future. Finally, to increase and improve recycling, RAI could improve the contract with their waste processing company, tender waste flows separately, and collaborate with companies that can recycle wood and carpet. Of these measures, circular procurement could achieve most circular and financial impact and shows only small barriers for implementation.

It is expected that the formulated measures could significantly increase the circularity of RAI. It is also expected to increase the awareness of people at RAI of the waste they create, which might lead to the identification of more circular improvements in the future.