Winner “Most Innovative Startup For Amsterdam” Award!

WasteBase took part in the very first edition of the Amsterdam Innovation Day — a celebration of 750 years of innovation, creativity, and progress in the city. At the end of the event, WasteBase was honored with the award for “Most Innovative Startup of Amsterdam.” A recognition that reinforces the urgency of WasteBase’s mission: to turn waste into possibility, and to bring forgotten materials back into the spotlight.

During the innovation market, WasteBase invited visitors into a social experiment to spark a discussion. The statement said:

“Consumer products are still too often made from new materials.”

Visitors received a sticker and placed it on a scale to show how strongly they agreed or disagreed with this statement. The follow-up question invited deeper thought; Who should be held more responsible — manufacturers, the government, or consumers?

To answer, visitors scooped a handful of residual materials and dropped them into one of three jars, each representing a different group. By the end of the day, the result was a physical, visual reflection of shared perspectives — and dozens of conversations sparked around accountability, power, and the future of materials.
This interactive approach resonated.

The outcome of the experiment made one thing clear: the majority of participants agreed with the statement. But when asked who bears the most responsibility, the answers were far less uniform. Each visitor brought their own perspective — and that’s exactly the point.

Some debated with friends, others quietly reflected. But all contributed to a much-needed conversation.

At WasteBase, we believe responsibility doesn’t lie with one group alone. Blaming gets us nowhere. Listening, planning, and acting — together — is how we move forward.

The time is now.

The team thanks Gemeente Amsterdam, Marineterrein Amsterdam, Innofest, AMS Institute and all visitors who joined the conversation, and looks forward to continuing the movement toward a more circular economy.