Public Stakeholders
These public authorities are working to accelerate Wallonia's transition towards a more circular economy.
AdN implements and develops Wallonia's digital strategy. It manages the Digital 4 Circular Wallonia programme, which aims to capitalise on digital technological progress to accelerate the circular economy in Wallonia.
AWEX promotes Walloon exports, and helps Walloon companies to export. It is the point of contact for foreign companies wishing to set up in Wallonia or expand their activities.
It is also a partner of Pôle MecaTech, notably in relation to the operationalisation of the battery value chain roadmap. The Pôle MecaTech coordinates the metallurgy value chain as part of the Circular Wallonia Strategy (see value chain coordinators hereunder).
Forem is a Walloon player with a strong commitment to the implementation of the circular economy in Wallonia, notably through providing training in the skills of the future and the promotion of new trades.
IFAPME is a Walloon training organisation that contributes to the deployment of the circular economy, in particular through apprenticeship/block release training.
The Soil and Waste Department is responsible for implementing Walloon waste policy, advising on the operation of waste management companies, enforcing waste-related tax provisions and developing soil protection and remediation policy.
It is responsible for implementing the "Waste-resource management" axis of the Circular Wallonia Strategy.
The Sustainable Development Department works in various areas, such as food and construction, in order to accelerate the transition towards sustainable development in Wallonia. It is also working on Wallonia's transition towards a circular economy, by strengthening the coordination among key players in Wallonia, and through innovative projects such as the Green Deal Circular Procurement.
The Sustainable Development Department is also at the heart of the development and implementation of Circular Wallonia, Wallonia's strategy for deploying a circular economy.
The Economic Policy Department supports the Walloon Government's decisions on economic matters, industrial policy, specialisation strategy, and enterprise and innovation policy. It represents Wallonia in a number of European bodies and platforms, and promotes the integration of economic players into European networks.
It is also at the heart of steering the implementation of the Walloon Strategy for the Deployment of the Circular Economy, particularly with regard to actions concerning the key value chains identified by the Strategy, but also projects linked to industry and innovation.
Wallonie Entreprendre meets the financial needs of Walloon entrepreneurs, and now also offers them support solutions at key moments in their existence.
To help companies become more circular, it offers financing (such as the Easy'Green loan) and support (company vouchers and a network of low-carbon/circular economy advisors).
Through the NEXT program, it provides specialised expertise in the field of circular economy to finance and analyse projects, with a particular focus on industrial activities. This is complemented by active participation in the implementation of structuring projects related to the targeted themes: Reverse Metallurgy, RenoWatt, Calls for Plastics Projects, and, more recently, the Green Deals initiative. Finally, close links are forged with private and public players in the world of financing, offering approaches specific to the circular economy, in order to enable a leverage effect.
W.Alter is a financing programme for social and cooperative economy projects in Wallonia. W.Alter is a key player in the integration of new governance models, particularly within the context of the deployment of a circular economy in Wallonia.
Value chain coordinators of the Circular Wallonia Strategy
Certain value chains represent a major challenge in terms of sustainability and climate impact, requiring coordinated action. The Circular Wallonia Strategy has identified six priority value chains: water, textiles, food, metallurgy, construction and plastics, as well as a cross-cutting value chain: biomass.
Here are the organisations coordinating the various measures and actions to be implemented in order to accelerate the circular transition of these sectors:
Centexbel is a scientific and technical centre specialising in the textile and plastics industries. It develops and disseminates knowledge in these fields, and promotes the application of research findings among European companies. Centexbel also assists companies in the analysis, characterisation and examination of their products and processes.
Centexbel is the coordinator of the Circular Wallonia Strategy textile chain.
The H2O Cluster is a network that unites and mobilises the Walloon water sector community in order to accelerate growth and innovation through partnerships and support for project development, in Wallonia and internationally. Launched in March 2022, it is made up of some 60 companies, public administrations and players in education and research. Members of the Cluster are involved in various stages of the water cycle: protection and management of water resources (rainwater, surface water and groundwater), treatment (potabilisation, purification, etc.), distribution, use, etc.
In collaboration with the SPGE, the H2O Cluster is coordinating the water value chain of the Circular Wallonia Strategy.
GreenWin is the Walloon clean-tech cluster. The sectors involved are green chemistry, construction and renovation materials and processes, and green-tech/environmental technologies. It has been a key player in the circular economy, industry 5.0, carbon neutrality, the fight against global warming and adaptations to climate risks since 2011. Collaborative projects based on life-cycle analysis are the core of the cluster's projects.
GreenWin coordinates the plastics and construction value chains of the Circular Wallonia Strategy.
The Pôle MecaTech is the competitiveness cluster for mechanical engineering. Its projects are selected around four strategic axes: materials and surfaces of the future, global shaping technologies, microtechnologies and mechatronics, and intelligent maintenance.
Pôle MecaTech is the coordinator of the metallurgy value chain of the Circular Wallonia Strategy.
SPGE manages wastewater collection and treatment; the protection of water resources (including catchments and bathing areas); and the coordination and financing of the water sector in Wallonia.
In collaboration with the H2O Cluster, SPGE is coordinating the water value chain of the Circular Wallonia Strategy.
The non-profit organisation Valbiom is the reference centre for biomass valorisation in Wallonia. It stimulates and facilitates the realisation of sustainable initiatives integrating biomass production and its transformation into energy and materials. This involves supporting projects, advising public authorities, raising awareness, and so on.
Valbiom is coordinating the bio-based economy value chain of the Circular Wallonia Strategy, which is cross-cutting and supports the other value chains.
Wagralim is Wallonia's point of reference for food innovation in all its forms: processes, products and market approaches. Thanks to its cross-disciplinary approach, combined with a dense network of entrepreneurial and academic partners in Belgium and abroad, Wagralim acts as a catalyst for innovation within a strong ecosystem. As a player in industrial transformation, Wagralim contributes to a sustainable system and a prosperous, inspiring Wallonia for future generations. The three strategic axes defined by Wagralim are: "An interconnected and sustainable agri-food system", "An efficient and transparent industry" and "Nutrition and consumers".
Wagralim is the coordinator of the agri-food value chain of the Circular Wallonia Strategy.
Other Circular Wallonia stakeholders
Here are some of the other actors involved in the Circular Wallonia strategy to one degree or another:
The Walloon reference agency for design works, among other things, to facilitate the integration of design into Walloon companies, institutions and public authorities; to improve the design ecosystem in Wallonia and unite its players; and to advise political decision-makers on how to make design a factor for growth and well-being.
In the context of the circular economy, Wallonie Design is actively involved in promoting eco-design to entrepreneurial and industrial players.
Other Belgian players in the circular economy
Circular economy strategies are also being implemented at the federal level, in the Brussels-Capital Region and in Flanders.
Deployment strategy of the Circular Economy in the Brussels-Capital Region. The Be circular website contains information on regional projects, calls for projects, resources, etc.
The Federal Public Service (FPS) for Public Health and FPS for the Economy are in charge of the Federal Plan for the Circular Economy (2021-2024).
Deployment strategy of the circular economy in Flanders. On this website, you will find information on the Flemish Region's projects, its calls for projects, resources, etc.