Improving the Material and Financial Circularity of the Plastic Packaging Value Chain in The Netherlands: Challenges, Opportunities, and Implications

This article outlines a bespoke process for uncovering crucial economic and social considerations in the quest to convert the Dutch plastic packaging system from a linear to a circular economy. Using a serious game tool as part of a qualitative research method, we developed, prioritized, and elaborated on various conceivable and effective policies that would create a circular plastic packaging value chain in The Netherlands. A key aim of this study was to fill a gap in the predominantly technical-focused research in this area by offering a holistic overview of how a circular economy impacts key industry stakeholders and their business models, as well as highlight system-level consequences of these policies, were they to be adopted. We used simulation and statistical analyses to explore the effects of these policies on the material and financial circularity of the Dutch plastic packaging value chain. The results reflect that one of the policies—establishing a center of excellence —would benefit the Dutch plastic packaging system the most.