Half suspect companies of using scarcity as an excuse for price increases.
Rotterdam, May 2026 - Raw material scarcity is seen as a growing social and economic problem by a large majority of Dutch people. As many as 78 percent expect raw material scarcity to become the new inflation.This is evident from research conducted by waste and raw materials manager Milgro among 1,000 Dutch people. This expectation is not isolated. Eighty percent are concerned about dependence on foreign raw materials. To mitigate those risks, 91 percent believe Europe should build strategic reserves.
Consumers see tension in role of companies
The Dutch place the responsibility for the availability of raw materials largely with the business community. For example, seven in ten (71%) believe that companies are responsible for solving raw material scarcity. Consumers expect companies themselves to take steps to be smarter and more economical with raw materials. Yet at the same time, they have doubts about intentions of organizations. For example, 51 percent think that companies use scarcity as an excuse for price increases. This creates a field of tension.On the one hand, consumers expect companies to contribute to solutions; on the other, they suspect that scarcity is being commercially exploited.
Appeal to the government
According to consumers, the solution therefore lies not only with companies; the government must also intervene. Eight out of ten Dutch people want the government to crack down harder on companies when it comes to dealing with scarcity and raw materials. This is also reflected in the concrete measures they support. For example, 84 percent think companies should be required to use a minimum percentage of recycled materials. In addition, three-quarters (77%) say the government should be allowed to restrict production or imports in the event of scarcity.And there is also broad support for price regulation: 75 percent want maximum prices for basic raw materials when they become scarce.
"Consumers see raw material scarcity less and less as a problem of the distant future, but rather as an immediate threat to prices and security of supply," says Gijs Derks, director of Milgro. "What is striking is that they are not only looking at companies, but also expect the government to set limits and intervene. The debate about raw materials is therefore shifting from 'how do we act efficiently' to 'who has control and can we trust them?' For organizations, this means that transparency about choices, prices and use of materials becomes even more important. Provide insight into your material flows, clarity about waste and options for smart reuse of raw materials. If you don't make this visible, you risk losing the trust of consumers."
About the survey
This research was commissioned by Milgro and conducted by Factsnapp in February 2026.A total of 1,000 Dutch people participated, including 500 men and 500 women.
About Milgro
Milgro aims to achieve a world free of waste by 2040. With over 110 employees, Milgro connects companies where waste is released with organizations that process waste or reuse raw materials. Through a data-driven and user-friendly dashboard, companies gain full control over their waste management. From operational handling to reports such as the CSRD: everything is in one control tool. Together with a large network, Milgro is building a circular future in which raw materials never again become waste.
