Circular economy in port environments – learning from international best practices

A wide range of international examples are particularly relevant for Circular Ports partners when designing and implementing their pilots. The review forms part of the Circular Ports project’s forthcoming Methodological Handbook on Circular Economy Assessment in Port Environments, which aims to provide a unified, step-by-step assessment framework that enables European ports to measure, compare and improve their CE performance across the full range of R-strategies, while ensuring consistent and secure data collection and processing.

Turning waste streams into value chains

Several examples from the Port of Rotterdam illustrate how clearly defined waste streams can be transformed into new value chains. One case focuses on end-of-life composite materials such as wind turbine blades. Through coordinated collection, processing and reuse, composite waste is converted into construction materials and feedstock for new plastics.

Another Rotterdam case demonstrates how End-of-Waste certification enables recycled metals to be marketed as certified secondary raw materials rather than waste. Strict inspection procedures, traceability systems and quality control allow recycled materials to compete with virgin inputs.

These examples show how ports can connect multiple actors within a port-industrial cluster and treat waste as a managed resource rather than a disposal challenge.

Integrating water, energy and industrial processes

Circular economy in ports also extends to water and energy systems. In Rotterdam’s Water Mining project, industrial brine is treated and reused within the port cluster, reducing freshwater consumption and carbon emissions. By forming closed loops between companies, the initiative demonstrates how industrial symbiosis can improve both resource efficiency and environmental performance.

This case provides a concrete example of combining water management with industrial symbioses, as water and brine become circular resource flows within a port cluster.

Circular clusters and large-scale recycling

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges provides an example of a port positioning itself as a circular economy hub. Building on one of Europe’s largest integrated chemical clusters, the port actively develops dedicated circular zones and attracts large-scale recycling investments.

A prominent initiative is the SynPet project, which will convert mixed plastic waste into circular naphtha suitable for use in existing petrochemical installations. By embedding advanced recycling technologies within established industrial infrastructure, the port authority acts as an orchestrator of circular value chains rather than solely as a landlord.

Urban–port symbiosis and resource recovery

In contrast to heavy industrial models, the Port of Amsterdam illustrates how circularity can be anchored in urban–port cooperation. Large volumes of municipal waste are processed within the port area, enabling the production of biofuels, biomethane and secondary raw materials.

Through close collaboration with industry, research institutions and innovation hubs, Amsterdam demonstrates how ports can bridge urban waste streams and industrial processing, creating circular value chains that extend beyond the traditional port hinterland.

From individual projects to circular ecosystems

The analysed cases confirm that there is no single model of a circular port. Circular economy strategies are shaped by local conditions such as industrial structure, urban proximity, land availability, regulatory frameworks and strategic priorities.

However, the analysed ports confirm that circular economy implementation in ports is most effective when it combines long-term strategic vision and leadership, integration of circularity into core port planning and infrastructure, industrial and urban symbiosis, clear operational standards supported by active stakeholder engagement, and transparent reporting with measurable performance indicators.

The forthcoming Methodological Handbook on Circular Economy Assessment in Port Environments will provide further detail on these case examples together with practical tools for assessing and benchmarking circular economy in port environments across the Baltic Sea Region.

The review has been published as an publication on the project homepage. Read the whole review: Circular Ports – case examples of best practises

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