ROND. opens its doors: Circular Craft Center gives people and materials new opportunities

Materials are given a second chance at the De Beitel business park. ROND. is the new Circular Craft Center of Parkstad and Heuvelland. The center opened on March 9. Here, people, knowledge, and materials come together for a circular economy.

What is ROND.?

ROND. is more than just a workshop for materials. It is a place where entrepreneurs, students, and professionals work together. They create new products and learn circular skills.

The center has three parts:

  • A regional network
  • A physical location for circular activities
  • Communication to make circularity visible

Alderman Casper Gelderblom the municipality of Heerlen says: "With the Circular Craft Center, we are taking a powerful step towards a sustainable future for Heerlen and the region. Our ambition is to be fully circular by 2050. With ROND., we are taking a concrete step in that direction today. We are moving away from thinking in terms of waste and starting to think in terms of value. In this way, we are gradually building a new economy in which raw materials are preserved and craftsmanship is central."

How do materials get a second life?

ROND. works primarily with wood. They do this in collaboration with Rd4, Habenu-van de Kreeke, Relim, and GTB-Lab.

Here's how it works:

  • High-quality wood comes from Rd4 and regional construction projects.
  • The wood is carefully sorted according to a qualification system.
  • After processing, the wood goes to Relim.
  • Relim turns them into circular products, such as profiles for homes and street furniture.

Verdaloop also uses part of the center. They give electronics a second life. They do not see surplus hardware as waste, but as a basis for reuse. They sort, clean, test, repair, and pack equipment.

Working together toward a circular future

The center receives support from the Parkstad Limburg Regional Deal. All Rd4 municipalities are working together.

Freed Janssen, chair of the Sustainability Steering Committee for the Parkstad Limburg urban region, says: "In Parkstad, we link circularity to social and economic development. By working together regionally, we not only enable the reuse of materials, we also create new opportunities for people, craftsmanship, and employment. ROND. is a tangible example of this."