Many exporting countries choose the Netherlands as one of the gateways into and out of Europe and the rest of the world – by road, air and sea. Although these modes of transportation create a significant amount of CO2 gasses, rail has become a sustainable alternative for cargo transport. Almost 85% of all rail freight in the Netherlands is international. And a further 2 direct cargo rail links to China were added recently.

The textile dye industry is the world's second largest polluter of drinking water. The chemicals used during the dye process of (synthetic) textile materials, are usually drained into open waters. However, the textile industry is working to change that by creating the world’s first waterless and non-chemical textile dye plant – a leap forward in making the process more sustainable.

Dutch humanitarian start-up Sheltersuit upcycles sleeping bags to help refugees and the homeless cope with harsh weather conditions. The firm was part of a group of six Dutch innovative companies that represented the Netherlands at the SXSW festival in the US.

The world consumes 350 million tons of plastic every year. Much of it ends up on landfills or gets incinerated. Europeans alone generate 25 million tons of plastic waste, of which only 30% is reused or recycled. Dutch company PlasticRoad wants to help to reduce this waste by building bicycle paths made from recycled plastic.

Global demand for food is set to outpace the available food production capacity, while destroying the climate goals. It is important to provide enough food and upgrade the capacity, while keeping an eye on sustainability. Dutch company De Krekerij thinks that using insects as a sustainable meat substitute can contribute to food security and while creating a circular planet together.

Selling shea nuts they gathered themselves is how many women in Mali and Burkina Faso earn a living. It's a precarious, season-dependent livelihood – but thanks to a public-private partnership (PPP), a Facility for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Food Security (FDOV) programme sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more and more female entrepreneurs in these countries have additional sources of income.

The air around us is becoming dirtier, especially in the world’s larger cities. At the same time we have to deal with massive traffic congestion. Dutch entrepreneurs want to collaborate with governments, students and companies to make a smog free city and get people out their cars and use greener forms of transportation.