🎬 Multilingual subtitles
✍️ By: Team BC1.NL
We must embrace sustainability; that sounds simple, but how easy is it to take steps toward a circular economy? And what does true sustainability actually entail? Business Channel One visited several trailblazers in the Netherlands who are driving sustainability forward from diverse fields and perspectives. How do they view the current state of sustainability, and what opportunities do they see to accelerate progress?
Five pioneers on the circular economy
We visited entrepreneur Volkert Engelsman from Eosta in Waddinxveen, the Netherlands. 
Eosta is a distributor of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Through their “Nature & More” initiative, they share the story behind their products. However, that alone is not enough. That’s why they advocate for fair wages for farmers while considering environmental impact through their campaign: “Organic isn’t too expensive, conventional is too cheap.”
Outgoing State Secretary of Infrastructure and Water Management in the Netherlands, Stientje van Veldhoven, has been advocating for sustainability for years. Together with VNO-NCW (the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers), she established ‘Het Versnellingshuis’ (The Acceleration House), a platform where entrepreneurs can seek advice on sustainability challenges. To enable real acceleration, Stientje van Veldhoven believes it is time to introduce a Circular Economy Act.
We also visited Michel Scholte, recently elected as “Minister of the New Economy.” He is actively working on initiatives like True Prices. 
Michel views one of his key responsibilities as ensuring fair pricing for products, considering not only financial aspects but also social, human, and environmental factors.
Kim Poldner is Professor of Circular Business at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She is dedicated to preparing students to become true changemakers, ready to contribute to the circular economy.
Werner Schouten, 
chair of the Dutch Youth Climate Movement, fights to ensure young people’s voices are heard in the conversation on sustainability. He challenges the government and businesses, pushing against the status quo to drive further progress toward sustainability.
Sustainability moves faster together than alone
There is a shared sense of urgency, we have no time to waste. It is encouraging to hear that these pioneers see numerous opportunities and possibilities to accelerate sustainability, particularly through improved collaboration.
Optimizing existing processes is not enough
It has become increasingly clear that we must make a greater effort to move away from the ‘old normal.’ Simply optimizing existing processes won’t lead to true sustainability. Greater collaboration is needed, not only within specific supply chains but also between education and business, government and industry, and across generations.
True sustainability requires looking beyond one’s own work environment
While each pioneer is committed to sustainability within their respective fields, it is evident that this alone is not enough. True sustainability cannot be achieved without looking beyond one’s own workplace, company, or industry. Constructive solutions were proposed, enabling other entrepreneurs to avoid reinventing the wheel.
The Acceleration House helps Dutch entrepreneurs
Dutch entrepreneurs seeking support to take steps toward sustainability can turn to Het Versnellingshuis (The Acceleration House), established by Stientje van Veldhoven and VNO-NCW. Those looking for examples of other trailblazers can find numerous inspiring cases on Business Channel One. If you wish to contact one of these companies, further details are available via their references.
Special thanks to De Rotterdam and the AnaFora Parkrestaurant.
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