On April 22, the National Vision on Sustainable Carbon in the Chemical Industry was published for public consultation. This vision was developed at the request of the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. To support its development, an expert advisory report was commissioned and prepared by five leading experts, with support from Berenschot.
One of the contributing experts is Prof. Dr. Yvonne van der Meer, Chair of Sustainability of Chemicals and Materials at the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (Maastricht University). She expresses pride in the final result and the extent to which the expert advice has been incorporated into the national vision.
The expert report explores four key themes:
- The strategic importance of carbon chemistry in the Netherlands, both now and in the future, and its international role within the ARRRA cluster (Antwerp-Rotterdam-Rhine-Ruhr area);
- The complexity of a sustainable carbon transition, including uncertainties around timing, required volumes, and viable technologies;
- The critical role of government direction, both nationally and through European regulation, to ensure market development, access to feedstocks, and technological innovation;
- The broader societal impact of the transition, which extends beyond CO₂ reduction and includes the fair distribution of costs and benefits, as well as wider environmental impacts.
Read the expert report or share your feedback via the public consultation