Min. I&W
Rijkswaterstaat
Reuse Strategy
The project
The Dutch Cabinet has decided to introduce legislation to steer the environmental impact of the civil engineering sector (ground, road, and waterworks). The aim is to reduce environmental impact while providing a clear investment perspective for producers. Copper8 contributed through preparatory research, policy advice, and support in drafting the legislative proposal.
Context
The ground, road, and waterworks (GWW) sector is highly material‑intensive and has a significant environmental footprint. In 2023, the Transition Team for a Circular Construction Economy advised introducing statutory steering on this environmental impact. Such legislative steering is intended to accelerate impact reduction and provide long‑term investment certainty for producers.
The question
Copper8 supports the ministry across several components of the legislative process: preparatory research into policy variants and their effects; policy advice on the measures to be taken; support in drafting the legislative proposal; and advice on monitoring and evaluation.
The requirements
Both substantive effectiveness and broad sector support are essential conditions for successful decision‑making and implementation of this legislation. Throughout the process, these two aspects have been central to the development of the proposal.
The process
Numerous sessions were organised during the trajectory to validate the recommendations and gather points of attention for further elaboration. These included sessions with ministries and contracting authorities, market parties, and independent experts from the sector.
The result
In November 2025, the Council of Ministers decided to submit the Environmental Performance Requirements for GWW legislative proposal to the Council of State for advice. The proposal consists of two components:
- Minimum environmental requirements for the most impactful materials used in GWW projects;
- mandatory procurement based on environmental impact in European public tenders within the GWW sector.
In addition to the statutory requirements, broader application of the MKI is encouraged to achieve further environmental impact reduction.
C opper8 supported us with great care throughout all phases of this legislative process. The combination of thorough analysis, practical policy advice, and a strong focus on sector support made a substantial contribution to a well‑supported and effective legislative proposal.
