Drinking water sector adopts material Passports
The project aimed for nine Dutch drinking water companies to start using a material passport for their pipelines in 2023. This digital material passport records the composition, location, and future availability of materials for high-value reuse. Suppliers are now required to provide this data in procurement processes.
This initiative, launched through the Blauwe Netten network—a collaboration led by MVO Nederland—follows a successful pilot with Madaster. The goal is to make 100,000 kilometers of underground pipelines fully circular by 2050. The material passport is a key first step, ensuring transparency and better resource management for reuse. By tracking material quality, availability, and location, the system enables efficient planning and logistics for circular materials. Given the long lifespan of pipelines, the sector is acting now to create the material bank of the future with Madaster.
Scaling circularity in 2025
In 2025, 50% of the Dutch drinking water sector has joined Madaster, integrating material passports into their operations. Additionally, 20 product manufacturers have registered their products in Madaster, ensuring greater transparency and circularity insights across the supply chain.
The ultimate goal is for the sector to steer decision-making based on circularity and CSRD compliance. Madaster provides material-bound data, enabling drinking water companies to monitor and optimize their environmental impact. As part of this digital transformation, Vitens (drinking water companies) has implemented an API connection with Madaster, further automating data exchange for seamless integration into their systems.
Successful pilot
In 2021, PWN, WML, and Vitens partnered with AVK, Dyka, and Beulco (manufacturers) to test material passports using Madaster’s platform. The pilot demonstrated that Madaster’s digital system effectively supports high-value reuse and integrates well with existing processes.
Each company has since progressed at its own pace—some conducting internal impact assessments, while others have begun adjusting systems and procurement criteria.
“Clean drinking water is a given in the Netherlands, but how we transport it can be improved. With over 100,000 kilometers of pipelines underground, the potential for circularity is enormous. Currently, detailed data on materials and origins is lacking, making reuse nearly impossible—most pipelines end up shredded,” says Maria van der Heijden, Director of MVO Nederland. “Blauwe Netten is stepping up, showing that collaboration and bold action can drive systemic change towards a circular economy.”
Scaling up material passports in the drinking water sector
Following the successful pilot, the next phase is sector-wide adoption. To support all drinking water companies, MVO Nederland has developed the guide “Getting Started with Material Passports in the Drinking Water Sector.” This free resource outlines key steps and roles for successful implementation.
