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Sectors: Construction and buildings

Flanders

Updated on 10.01.2024

Circular Flanders is the network and inspiration hub for the Flemish circular economy (CE). It is a partnership of governments, companies, civil society, and the knowledge community that will develop strategies, policies and actions together. 
 

CE is one of the seven transition priorities formulated by the Government of Flanders. To that aim, we strive to decouple the material footprint created by Flemish consumption from economic growth and reduce that footprint by 30 %. 

 

Countries: Belgium
Population: 6.200.000

More information

The OVAM (the Public Waste Agency of Flanders) has been appointed as the host organisation of Circular Flanders. The operational team of Circular Flanders is embedded in the OVAM. The core team consists of 13 operational and staff members (~ 10 FTE). 
 

But the circular transition is far too big to assign to a single team or organisation. That is why the approach starts from public-private partnerships working on six themed strategic agenda's and seven strategic levers. Together, they represent the most important economic sectors, material flows and policy instruments.  

Leading organisation

Circular Flanders  

Unit/department/section

Circular Flanders – Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM)  

Link to existing circular economy action plan

Circular State of the Union 2022 (in Dutch) 
 

The Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) is a strong and unique model of cooperation and action. First, representatives from the ‘societal pentagon’, including government, industry & business, local policy-makers, social profit, knowledge institutions, and the financial world join forces in a high level Steering Group. Second, for six thematic strategic agendas, there is a specific partnership and Declaration of Engagement, led by a public and a private partner. They come up with targets together, define strategy, and get things moving. 
 

The topics covered by the strategic agendas fit in seamlessly with the priorities that Europe puts forward in the Green Deal:  
 

  1. circular construction 
  2. chemicals and plastics 
  3. water cycles 
  4. biobased economy 
  5. food chain 
  6. manufacturing (textiles, furniture, electronics, batteries, etc.) 

 

Thirdly, to make the transition to a CE a reality, there is a whole series of habits, rules, and barriers prone to the ‘linear economy’ that need to be tackled. Support in the areas of communication, legislation, funding, and robust scientific research are required. For that reason, we are juxtaposing the strategic agendas with seven levers: 
 

  1. financing 
  2. communication 
  3. research 
  4. jobs and skills 
  5. circular procurement 
  6. innovation and entrepreneurship 
  7. policy and legislative instruments 

 

Additionally, certain cross-cutting programmes have been developed on ports, the social economy sector, or the role of cities & decentralised bodies of government.  

Objectives

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Other activities

CE actions at Circular Flanders are closely related to the activities of OVAM. Waste prevention, resource efficiency and sustainable materials management are core pillars of CE actions. (See here for more information) 
 

Front-runner policies have been in place on topics like plastic waste and packaging, construction, and demolition, biowaste and food, textiles, household waste, reuse, high quality secondary raw materials, eco-design, investments in recycling, brownfield redevelopment, etc. 
 

International level projects are looking for circular solutions in Green Procurement (PROCIRC), in building (ICEBERG, REPAIR), in plastics (Remadyl, Creator), and in circular material use (Cmartlife). 

Link to Circular Systemic Solution

Flanders is a leader in climate and circular economy policies one of which is the Flemish Climate and Energy Plan. As part of this plan, all Flemish municipalities are developing local energy and climate plans (LECPs) and Flanders will aim to embed circular economy principles linked to the built environment within each LECP.


The spotlight will then move to ground-breaking demonstration projects in a selected number of smaller Flemish towns and municipalities – that promote circular building(-s). This will include financial feasibility aspects related to circular building(-s), with the ultimate aim to make these projects a reality and maximise their replication potential
 

Circular economy good practices

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Key publications, policies, legislations and initiatives

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Support from CSO

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Resource use, flows and materials

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