Every month, The Groundbreakers puts an inspiring initiative, product or company in the spotlight. By sharing knowledge and inspiration, we want to stimulate sustainable developments and we hope to contribute to the greening of the business community. This time we would like to highlight the Court of Cartesius in Utrecht. The Groundbreakers team was given a tour of this circularly built workplace. Finally, we did a workshop at the second-hand hardware store Buurman Utrecht. De Clique uit. Een innovatief bedrijf uit Utrecht met als missie duurzaamheid te integreren in het dagelijks leven door middel van een uniek concept: het ophalen van organisch afval in de stad en het omzetten ervan in nieuwe producten.


Food scraps are a breeding ground for new products

Currently, organic residual materials such as coffee grounds, food scraps and fruit and vegetable peels are often thrown away as waste. A great shame, because this organic residual waste contains valuable nutrients. We have to do something about that, says De Clique from Utrecht. They do not see this waste as waste, but as a valuable resource and as a breeding ground for new products. De Clique employees collect organic waste from restaurants, supermarkets and other companies. They then transform this waste into products such as beer, bitterballen and oyster mushrooms.

It is striking that the Clique mainly collaborates with local companies and initiatives from Utrecht. This promotes the local economy and at the same time reduces the environmental impact of waste transport over long distances.


Spread the word

What really sets De Clique apart is their commitment to education. They believe in the power of awareness and teach people how to reduce their organic waste and process it properly. Nowadays, sustainability is no longer a trend, it has become a necessity. Companies like De Clique show that sustainability is not only feasible, but can be financially viable. They not only inspire residents of Utrecht, but also serve as a model for sustainable business operations.


More than 300 companies are part of De Clique, which reuses more than 50,000 kilos of raw materials per month and saves more than 26,000 kg of CO2 per month. The Clique is a fantastic example of how sustainability goes hand in hand with innovation and local involvement. So Utrecht, do you feel the connection with De Clique? Then join quickly!

Would you like to know more about De Clique? Then view: De Clique – Circular bio-raw materials service for new products!

Header photo: ©Angeliek de Jonge