HANNA DIJKSTRA, PHD

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Research projects

Plastics Treaty & SMEs

Earth Action, WWF, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Worked with EA- Earth Action on a project commissioned by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation and WWF to research the potential impacts of the Global Plastics Treaty on businesses, focusing on smaller companies. The project entailed extensive research, modeling impacts and engaging with over 150 companies around the world.

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Henderson Island Expedition

Plastic Odyssey, Howell Conservation Fund

Joined the expedition to Henderson Island (part of Pitcairn Island group) in February 2024 as the marine debris scientist in charge of monitoring the state of pollution. This ‘impossible cleanup’ mapped marine debris on the remote,  uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and successfully removed 9 tonnes of waste. 

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Sharjah Sustainable Tourism

Sea Going Green, Sharjah Commerce and Development 

With Sea Going Green supported the Sharjah Commerce and Development Authority (SCTDA) to develop a vision for sustainable tourism in Sharjah with an associated website. Together we created a new sustainability education platform – Sustain Sharjah – and developed concept for carbon offset pilot.

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Institute for Environmental Studies

VU Amsterdam

Continued affiliation with the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) department at VU Amsterdam, a leading sustainability institute conducting research and teaching. For IVM, I provide guest lectures, supervise Master’s students and ongoing research into circular economy and plastics. 

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CLAIM Horizon 2020

VU Amsterdam

Researcher in the economic and policy working group of the four year, 19 partner CLAIM Horizon 2020 EU project. Led business model and innovation research and supported policy and citizen engagement through workshops and large scale public surveys. 

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Plastic Waste Free Islands

Ubuntoo, IUCN

Consulting on strategy and framework development for the global community of practice ‘Plastic Waste Free Islands’ hosted on Ubuntoo in collaboration with IUCN.

 

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Science for impact

With a strong academic background and a dedication to sustainability, I’m always on the lookout for projects and opportunities to maximize impact.  I work at the intersection of science, business and society through sustainability strategy, targeted research and engaging communication. I am currently available for freelance research, consulting and communication work. 

You can follow my latest work on Google Scholar and ResearchGate. 

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Academic publications

Doctoral dissertation

  • Dijkstra, H. (2023). Ripples to waves: How business models and entrepreneurs are propelling the transition towards a sustainable plastic system. [Doctoral Thesis, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam]. https://doi.org/10.5463/thesis.220
    • Recording of public doctoral defense can be accessed here

 

Peer reviewed publications

  • Dijkstra, H., & Planko, J. (2023) The roles of sustainable entrepreneurs in tackling societal challenges: Quantifying how sustainable plastic companies act to create system change. Sustainable Production and Consumption. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2023.05.028
  • Dijkstra, H., van Beukering, P., & Brouwer, R. (2022). Marine plastic entrepreneurship; Exploring drivers, barriers and value creation in the blue economy. Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stae.2022.100018
  • Dijkstra, H., van Beukering, P., & Brouwer, R. (2021). In the business of dirty oceans: Overview of startups and entrepreneurs managing marine plastic. Marine Pollution Bulletin. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111880
  • Dijkstra, H., van Beukering, P., & Brouwer, R. (2020). Business models and sustainable plastic management: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Cleaner Production. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120967
  • Dijkstra, H., van Oosterhout, L., Borst, D., Duijndam, S., Rehdanz, K., & van Beukering, P. (2023). Triggering sustainable plastics consumption behavior: Identifying consumer profiles across Europe and designing strategies to engage them. Sustainable Production and Consumption. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.12.023
  • Dijkstra, H., & Grassin, J.B. (2023) Plastic Venture Builder (PVB): An empirically derived assessment tool to support plastic waste management ventures in low- and middle- income countries. Waste Management and Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734242X231180648
  • Falk-Andersson, J., Rognerud, I., De Frond, H., Leone, G., Karasik, R., Diana, Z., Dijkstra, H., Ammendolia, J., Eriksen, M., Utz, R., Walker, T.R., & Fürst., K. (2023). Cleaning Up without Messing Up: Maximizing the Benefits of Plastic Clean-Up Technologies through New Regulatory Approaches. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01885
    • Covered by Der Speigel 13.10.2023 – Plastikmüll schadet der Umwelt – aber seine Beseitigung oft auch (Plastic waste is harmful to the environment – but so is its disposal)
  • Brouwer, R., Huang, Y., Huizenga, T., Frantzi, S., Le, T., Sandler, J., Dijkstra, H., van Beukering, P., Costa, E., Garaventa, F. & Piazza, V. (2023). Assessing the performance of marine plastics cleanup technologies in Europe and North America. Ocean & Coastal Management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106555
  • Van Oosterhout, L., Dijkstra, H., Van Beukering, P., Rehdanz, K., Khedr, S., Brouwer, R., & Duijndam, S. (2022). Public Perceptions of Marine Plastic Litter: A Comparative Study Across European Countries and Seas. Frontiers in Marine Science. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.784829
  • Frantzi, S., Brouwer, R., Watkins, E., van Beukering, P., Cunha, M.C., Dijkstra, H., Duijndam, S., Jaziri, H., Okoli, I.C., Pantzar, M. and Cotera, I.R., (2021). Adoption and diffusion of marine litter clean-up technologies across European seas: Legal, institutional and financial drivers and barriers. Marine Pollution Bulletin. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112611
  • Khedr, S., Rehdanz, K., Brouwer, R., van Beukering, P., Dijkstra, H., Duijndam, S., & Okoli, I. C. (2023). Public preferences for marine plastic litter management across Europe. Ecological Economics. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107609
  • Hagedoorn, L. C., Brander, L. M., Van Beukering, P. J. H., Dijkstra, H. M., Franco, C., Hughes, L., Gilders, I., & Segal, B. (2019). Community-based adaptation to climate change in small island developing states: an analysis of the role of social capital. Climate and Development https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2018.1562869

 

Opinion articles and commentary

  • Dijkstra, H. (2023). Reflections on a PhD. Personal essay.
  • Dijkstra, H. (2022). Entrepreneurs are key assets to systemically address marine plastic pollution. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00353-1
  • Dijkstra, H. (2023). The Plastics Treaty as an instrument of innovation in “Charting success for the Plastics Treaty.” One Earth 6, no. 6 (2023): 575-581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.05.022

 

Policy and industry reports

  • Making the global plastics treaty work for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Report for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF.
  • Sustainable Finance in EU Overseas Territories – An assessment of sustainable finance mechanisms in the Caribbean region. Report for JNCC by van Beukering, P., Hagedoorn, L., Dijkstra, H., Lujan Gallegos, V., & Smith, M.
  • SRJS Scoping Report – An initial assessment of economic valuation and ecosystem services in Aceh, Chaco-Pantanal, Guianas and Zambezi for WWF-NL by van Beukering, P., Hagedoorn, L., & Dijkstra, H.
  • Tackling Climate Change as an Island Community: An application of the integrated climate change adaptation framework in Melekeok State, Palau. Thesis submitted for the Master’s of Science in Environment and Resource Management (2016) by H. Dijkstra http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28331.75043