“We want Gen Z to find sustainable choices appealing”
Bol and Het Goed case holders in the Upcoming National Hackathon on Circular Economy
January 2025 – From February 3 to 7, the annual National Hackathon on Circular Economy takes place, with bol and Het Goed as this year’s case holders. In the lead-up to the Hackathon, we spoke with Charlotte Halbe, Sustainability Lead at bol.
Why is bol participating as a partner for this Hackathon?
“Personally, I find hackathons incredibly fun, but for bol, it’s also a great opportunity to engage young people with our circular challenges and gain insights into what motivates them. We want the younger generation to find sustainable product choices just as appealing as regular ones,” Halbe explains.
Charlotte Halbe, Sustainability Lead at bol
The voice of the younger generation
The challenge for students in this fifth edition of the Hackathon is to unleash their creativity on how retailers can encourage young people to make sustainable, circular choices over automatically buying new produced products. “Young people are our future consumers. It’s crucial to understand what drives them and what barriers they currently face when it comes to making sustainable choices,” says Halbe. Research shows that younger generations place slightly less importance on sustainability compared to older generations. At the same time, they claim to engage in more sustainability-related actions. “If we want younger consumers to opt for circular options, we need to involve them.”
"We are working on more circular business models, but we also want these to align with customer needs and remove potential barriers. If we succeed, the impact will be tremendous. Together with our partners and customers, we want to build a sustainable future."
Circular initiatives at bol
Bol has already taken steps toward sustainability. In November, it launched a new refurbished category, giving electronics a second life. “We want consumers to find refurbished products just as appealing as new ones. This not only helps conserve resources but also makes sustainability more accessible to a broader audience,” Halbe explains. Additionally, bol focuses on minimizing waste from returns. “We love collaborating with partners like Het Goed and other organizations to ensure that returned items we can no longer repair or sell aren’t thrown away. This way, we can also give these products a second life,” Halbe shares.
Making impact
Halbe is aware of the skepticism some students might have about large companies participating in a Hackathon on circular economy. “We started 25 years ago as an e-commerce platform focused on convenience and excellent service for consumers, not from a sustainability perspective. But we also see our footprint and are committed to reducing it further. We are working on more circular business models, but we also want these to align with customer needs and remove potential barriers. If we succeed, the impact will be tremendous. Together with our partners and customers, we want to build a sustainable future,” she asserts confidently.
Do you have any advice for students participating in the Hackathon?
“Always ask questions. Why do things happen the way they do? Your fresh perspective is essential to challenge businesses and drive change. That’s how you can truly make a difference.”
With the upcoming Hackathon, bol and Het Goed hope not only to discover innovative solutions but also to inspire other retailers and partners to collaborate in building a circular future.