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Sustainability

3 minute read

How would you reimagine Amsterdam, Jacqueline van den Ende?

Neste’s Journey to Zero “My City Reimagined” series asks local people in major cities to reimagine their hometown with a vision for sustainability. Their ideas are then brought to life with the help of 3D animation. In the first episode, watch Jacqueline van den Ende, co-founder and CEO of Carbon Equity, a climate investing platform, reimagine Amsterdam.

Neste

2023-03-23T00:00+02:00

“Amsterdam is a city that feels like a village. You can bike anywhere in 30 minutes; you can walk anywhere – it is a beautiful place to live in.” 

For My City Reimagined, Jacqueline van den Ende takes us to three locations close to her heart in Amsterdam and gives her take on how they could be made even better from a sustainability point of view.  What would van den Ende’s vision look like if it became reality?

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Van den Ende’s home neighborhood in downtown Amsterdam 

“My neighborhood is one of the oldest parts of Amsterdam. I love it because it is right next to the canals, there are a lot of cool small restaurants and cafés but also a lot of greenery, parks and playgrounds. The area has culture and character. Many old Amsterdammers live here.  “Trash collection is, however, an issue here. Many people walk through here and they leave their cans, plastics, pizza boxes and food waste either on the streets or in the bushes. I would love for that trash to be collected and put into better use.” 

Fact: Currently, around 54% of the waste produced in Amsterdam is recycled, according to the city of Amsterdam.

Infographic of how municipal waste can be turned into sustainable fuels and chemicals

The canals 

“The canals are the veins of Amsterdam. The flow of boats, people and water is truly calming to me. 

For me, the canals could be even better if the water quality improved and the canals became swimmable, and if all the boats that pass through would be electric and quiet as they ship people and goods through the city.” 

Fact: According to Waternet, a local water company, more than 110 kilograms of plastic waste is collected from Amsterdam’s waterways every day. 

A woman in the street of Amsterdam

The former shipyard NDSM 

“The NDSM area is one of my favorite areas in Amsterdam. It used to be a shipyard but now it has become an artistic hub with a lot of street art, cool cafés and clubs.  

Now, it is increasingly transforming into a residential area, so you will see many more buildings. I hope for these buildings to be fully sustainable and circular intermixed with urban farms, green spaces, and that the area retains much of its unique cultural heritage.” 

Fact: According to the city of Amsterdam, construction and demolition waste represents 69% of the total waste generated in the city. 

Neste helps make cities more sustainable, providing renewable and circular solutions to businesses in the transport, aviation and plastics sectors. Read more about how waste and residues, such as used cooking oil, are used as raw materials for renewable products. Neste is also exploring the raw material potential of, for example, recycled waste plastics and municipal solid waste.

Credits: Neste