Context
In the Flemish-Dutch border region, the sustainable reuse of materials is crucial for economic growth and climate goals. Yet, circularity remains low: only 16.3% in Flanders and 25% in the Netherlands. Reuse often occurs at low levels, such as in foundation materials or biogas production. Companies need to use raw materials more efficiently, but are encountering economic and technical limitations. Collaboration between companies offers opportunities, especially for small businesses.
Main challenges:
- Support is fragmented, focused on individual companies and sectors.
- Collaboration outside of the company's own value chain is limited, even though there is significant potential there.
- Existing matchmaking platforms cannot function without active guidance.
There is a need for structural support and connections between companies to stimulate circular collaboration. Initiatives such as social-circular hubs (Flanders) and residual flow brokers (Netherlands) are promising but still under development.
Objective
The project is developing and testing a 'circular agent': an intermediary that helps companies in Flanders and the Netherlands collaborate on a circular economy. The focus is on practical support, matchmaking, and knowledge sharing across sectors and borders.
Three core activities:
- Developing a methodology to connect companies across borders and sectors.
- Practical testing through concrete cases in both regions.
- Optimizing tools and training to make the approach widely applicable.
Intended results
- Clear role description and added value of the circular agent.
- Insight into material flows and promising collaborations.
- Supporting concrete circular business cases.
- Training new circular agents for sustainable impact.
In this project, AP University of Applied Sciences is leading the development of practical tools and training for local and regional authorities and business park managers.