Why is everyone going doughnuts for Amsterdam? (the answer may not be quite what you expect)

Whilst many of us sit and ponder what the world will be like 'on the other side' of Covid-19, one city which is already thinking ahead is Amsterdam. Instead of simply focusing on the economic strains Covid-19 is placing upon the world, cities, and communities, the Dutch capital, municipality officials and the British economist Kate Raworth have also been collaborating and cooking up a plan to rebuild the city in sustainable way, post-Covid-19. To do this, they're implementing the doughnut model.

What is the Doughnut Model?

Amsterdam will become the first city in the world to implement Raworth's doughnut economic model which aims to create a circular economy that we can all thrive in, rather than constant never-ending growth.

Derived from the United Nations Sustainability Goals and agreed by varying political world leaders, the inner ring of the doughnut sets out the minimum we need to lead a good life. This ranges from food and clean water to a housing (of a certain standard), sanitation, energy, education, healthcare, gender equality, income and political voice. Quite simply, anyone not achieving the minimum standards is living in the doughnut’s hole.

The most flavourful part of the doughnut (mmm think of the sprinkles...) aka: the outer ring of the doughnut, represents the ecological ceiling derived by scientists. It highlights the boundaries which humans should avoid damaging such as should the climate, soils, oceans, the ozone layer, freshwater and biodiversity.

So where do we want to be? The correct answer is: between the two rings aka, the dough, which demonstrates a place where everyone’s needs and that of the planet are being met. Sounds great, right?

But how does the Doughnut work in reality?

The challenge of moving into the safe and just space for humanity is complex because social and planetary boundaries are interdependent. Environmental stress can exacerbate poverty, and vice versa. Policies aimed at moving back within planetary boundaries can, if poorly designed, push people further below the social foundation, and vice versa. But well-designed policies can promote both poverty eradication and environmental sustainability – bringing humanity into the doughnut from both sides. 

Essentially, the framework brings out a new perspective on sustainable development. 

In the case of Amsterdam, Raworth has scaled down the model to provide Amsterdam with a snapshot of the city illustrating where basic needs are not being met and planetary boundaries are being overshot. It displays how, like above, the issues are interlinked.

As a result of this, Amsterdam has launched its Circular 2020-2025 Strategy which outlines the actions to halve the use of new raw materials by 2030. Additionally, the city aims to have a completely circular economy by 2050, based on reusing raw materials to avoid waste and reduce Co2 emissions.

Within the property and construction sector, Amsterdam will implement stricter sustainability requirements in construction tenders. For example, buildings will get a ‘materials passport’ so that demolition companies can determine whether materials are still valuable and where reusable materials can be found instead. 

It is also developing a monitoring tool to track and trace raw materials and assess which initiatives make the biggest contribution to circular economy goals.  This includes a pilot across paint industry and thrift shops through which discarded latex paint is collected and newly processed for resale.

Is the Doughnut model really what we need post Covid-19?

The Amsterdam Circular 2020-2025 Strategy document notes that the road towards creating a circular economy is “fraught with uncertainty” and requires experimentation, acceptance of risk and breaking old habits. Of course, this model comes with some risk, don't they all. However, surely the risk of continually bursting our earth's boundaries is a far more serious one? Breaking old habits is key.

If we really are to enter into a new world with new challenges (and opportunities) post Covid-19, I for one, would much rather see cities like Amsterdam, communities, and world leaders come together to create more innovative and sustainable ways of living. Why must we go back to the "normal" we know is far from sustainable and far from safe if we have this opportunity to recover, rebuild, and re-brand our previous world?