by Walther Ploos van Amstel
We all know the reflex: the washing machine stutters, the phone screen cracks, or the e-bike loses its punch — and we immediately start browsing for a replacement. But a 2026 study by TNO and the Dutch Association for Circular Economy (NVCE) shows this instinct is costing consumers real money. Choosing repair or refurbishment keeps …
A new European Commission study maps out why small electronics rarely make it back into the circular economy — and what cities and policymakers can do about it. Every year, millions of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and their chargers reach the end of their useful life in European households. Yet instead of being returned, repaired, or …
Researchers at Delft University of Technology used computer simulations to predict the effects of introducing a minimum wage for platform workers, concluding that a fair wage is achievable but requires bold political decisions. The article focuses on a March 2026 study by researchers Farnoud Ghasemi and colleagues, who built an agent-based simulation modeling the behavior …
A new academic study from TU Delft takes a deep dive into one of Amsterdam’s most pressing urban challenges: how to keep goods flowing into the city without choking its historic streets and aging infrastructure. The paper, by Bijvoet, Karademir, and Atasoy (2026), models a multimodal two-echelon distribution system for Amsterdam’s HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, …
A new study from the ERROLI project sheds light on the working conditions of urban delivery riders in Paris and Lyon — one of the first large-scale investigations into this rapidly growing yet poorly understood sector. Researchers surveyed 1,005 riders recruited directly at 26 working locations across both cities. The typical rider is a young …
Rising labor costs, a new truck toll, and energy volatility are forcing Dutch logistics managers to fundamentally rethink their approach to real estate. The message from the latest market data is unambiguous: the warehouse you choose today will define your competitive position for the next decade. The logistics sector has always operated on tight margins. …
Amsterdam and Berlin are among the European frontrunners in efficient urban logistics. This is shown by the European Freight Efficiency Index from Geotab, which is based on connected-vehicle data from seven European capital cities. Amsterdam scores 59 out of 100 points, finishing just behind Berlin (61). London (29) and Madrid (25) bring up the rear. …
The Dutch postal market is at an impasse. PostNL holds a monopoly on letter mail delivery; service quality is deteriorating rapidly, and prices are rising sharply (in some cases by 150 to 300 percent). At the same time, the company claims that its letter mail service is loss-making and is demanding subsidies or seeking to …
A new study compares how five global cities handle e-commerce deliveries — and finds that context is everything. City logistics keeps growing, and with it, the pressure on urban streets. More parcels, more vans, more congestion, and more urgency for cities to find smarter solutions. But which solutions actually work? A new study published in …
Many cities aim to be fully circular by 2050. That sounds like a promise. But anyone who looks honestly at what is actually happening sees mostly well-intentioned projects that deliver little in practice. Worm hotels in neighborhood gardens. A timber auction of felled city trees. Discounts on shoe repairs via local city passes. Inspiring, yes, …