Material Mastery | Circular Transition Accelerators

Some of you know already that for some time now, we are embarking on a new circular start up. Thanks to circular team of the city of Ghent (thank you Nele Van Steenberge, Dieter De Smedt and Wouter Antheunis) we could participate in the CCRI definite project. Read the story👇. Organisations looking for a true circular solution to wrap their pallets (in a safe way) are always welcome to join our group of test drivers. (Feel free to contact me) More news soon.

Project news! Using self-adhesive films in interiors to reduce conversion time, dust, noise, and footprint has a great future. For the team of Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions we developed in cooperation with Gabrielė Paužuolytė and Maryna Bilanchuk the best sample film book on the market. Using our expertise in architect marketing, product development, and design we created a tool that will help to inspire more interior architects to use superior interior films. #architectmarketing #selfadhesives #interiordesigns

🚀 CSRD & Circular Economy: A Strategic Opportunity for Sustainability Managers 🌍 As a sustainability manager, you're likely navigating the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requirements. Did you know that the circular economy is now a core component of CSRD reporting? This is a game-changer for companies striving to reduce their environmental footprint while ensuring business resilience. 🌱 Under ESRS E5, companies must disclose their resource use, circular design, waste generation, and product recovery processes. This isn't just about ticking regulatory boxes—it’s about rethinking your purchasing, production, logistics, and maybe even your business model to embrace a closed-loop system, cutting waste, and boosting efficiency. ♻️ 🔑 Key questions to explore: 1) What formal circular economy policies do we have? 2) What are our resource efficiency targets? 3) Are we engaging stakeholders like customers and suppliers in our circular efforts? Leveraging CSRD reporting can not only enhance transparency but also unlock strategic insights to drive your company’s sustainability goals. Let’s use this opportunity to advance circularity and make a tangible impact! 💼✅ We know that impactful circular projects are often difficult to manage, and finding truly innovative solutions rarely comes from within. Maybe it's time to consider hiring a specialist who can develop the right circular strategy and deliver innovative solutions tailored to your company’s needs. ☕ If you believe we can be of help, let’s have a coffee and discuss how we can support your sustainability journey. Follow us for more news on circular strategies and solutions. Good Luck! #Sustainability #CSRD #CircularEconomy #SustainableBusiness #ESG #CorporateTransparency

A memorable morning at Brussels Airport! ✈️ Reflecting on my past career, I've taken more than 300 flights to and from this airport, some at the crack of dawn and others late into the night. But today was special—an opportunity to see things from a completely different perspective. Thanks to a fantastic visit to the airport operations and an insightful presentation from Christel Vandenhouten (Head of sustainable development), I learned about the airport's sustainability strategy, key accomplishments, and future plans. 🌍♻️ Did you know? > Brussels Airport operates in an exceptionally complex environment, navigating relationships with 4 municipalities, 2 regions, and 1 country. Imagine the political intricacies of driving a sustainability agenda in such a setting! > The airport welcomes 22 million passengers annually, each contributing to the challenge of managing waste and reducing environmental impact. > Over 35,000 employees work across various departments, ensuring smooth operations around the clock. > A dynamic ecosystem of 355 companies supports the airport's day-to-day activities, creating a tightly interconnected community. > Annually, the airport handles 701,000 tons of cargo, contributing to both global commerce and the environmental footprint. What an incredible sustainability challenge (and achievements)—balancing the efficient movement of people and goods while mitigating environmental impact! A huge thank you to the ETION team (Els Boersma and Co) for organizing this inspiring visit. I also had the pleasure of expanding my network and connecting with some interesting new Etion members. Looking forward to staying engaged with this incredible team and seeing how they continue to innovate and lead in sustainability! 👏 #sustainability #networking #innovation #airportoperations

Fueling our reusable packaging startup with CCRI-DEFINITE’s expertise 🌍🔄 Last Thursday and Friday, we had the honor of welcoming the CCRI-DEFINITE team, who are guiding our start-up toward a successful launch. 🚀 As we navigate the many challenges of building a new business focused on reusable packaging, their support has been invaluable. From helping with patent processes, pre-engineering our production machine, and conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), to providing market research insights and strengthening our business plan—this guidance has made a world of difference. Thanks to Tommaso Buso, Archit Parikh, Luke Bailey, Nikolai Jacobi, Evi Makri, Eleni Kanellou and Ioannis Papagiannopoulos. A special thank you to Dieter De Smedt, Helena O'Rourke-Potocki and Alexandra Vandevyvere for the insightful training on accessing public procurement. The knowledge and encouragement we've received are pivotal as we prepare to bring our vision to life. 💡 Starting a business isn’t easy, but with expert support like this, we are more confident than ever in our mission to make a sustainable impact. Together, we are contributing to the future of a circular economy, one reusable package at a time. ♻️💼 #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Startups #CCRI #DEFINITEProject #ReusablePackaging #Innovation #LCA #BusinessGrowth

A book? Yes! We assisted in writing a guide for circular school construction! Why? Because there are numerous opportunities to design better futureproof schools for learners of the future. This project is supported by Circular Flanders with project subsidies from VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship and was created through an intensive collaboration with abbelle bv, An Abbeloos and Hasselt University, Alexander Verschave, Jonas Voorter, Bernard Vanheusden, and the lovely team of cuypers&Q architects, Antwerp (Sofie Borré and Nele Samson) as initiator. Thanks also to my colleagues Irakli Ratiani and Adriaan Debruyne for the research and insights. #circularconstruction #circulareconomy

Why we invest in the NEW Circular Economy: An Investment Opportunity for Long-Term Growth. The transition to a circular economy presents one of the most promising investment opportunities of the coming decade. As businesses shift from a traditional "take-make-dispose" model to one that focuses on minimizing waste and reusing materials, the circular economy could unlock significant economic value, projected at $4.5 trillion by 2030, according to BCG Global Understanding the Circular Economy The circular economy operates on three main principles: 1) Design out waste and pollution: Products and processes are designed with waste minimization in mind from the outset. 2) Keep products and materials in use: This involves reusing, remanufacturing, or recycling materials to extend their life cycle. 3) Regenerate natural systems: This principle focuses on replenishing the environment, rather than depleting it. McKinsey highlights that the circular economy could generate €600 billion annually in cost savings by 2030, with an additional €1.2 trillion in other economic benefits. This is driven by improved resource productivity and reduced dependence on raw materials. The shift is more than just an environmental imperative; it’s a lucrative opportunity for companies to cut costs, reduce risks, and access new revenue streams. Key Investment Opportunities 1. Manufacturing 2. Fashion 3. Technology 4. Construction This shift not only reduces the environmental impact of construction but also significantly lowers the costs associated with raw materials and waste management. Why Investors Should Pay Attention The circular economy is not just a trend—it’s a revolution in how businesses operate and grow. With governments tightening regulations on waste and emissions, companies that adopt circular practices early will be well-positioned to benefit from regulatory incentives and avoid potential penalties (Bain). Furthermore, as consumer demand for sustainable products rises, companies embracing circularity are gaining customer loyalty and expanding market share. Bain & Company emphasizes that the circular economy presents a unique opportunity to decouple growth from resource consumption. As businesses face increasing pressures to improve their environmental performance, those that integrate circular practices into their core strategy will thrive in the long term. According to Bain’s research, circular business models are expected to contribute 30% more revenue by 2030 compared to 2021, demonstrating the significant financial upside of investing in circularity. Investing in circular business models is not just a path to positive environmental impact—it's a strategic move for investors seeking to capitalize on one of the most significant economic opportunities of the 21st century. Now you know why we are investing in it. Stay updated => follow our page. #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #InvestmentOpportunities #ESG #LongTermGrowth

Adriaan, are you building a pallet? 😄 YES! Actually, we’re writing a patent and role-playing as competitors trying to work around it! It’s all part of the process. As we develop a new packaging solution, we rely on fast, adjustable scale models to bring our ideas to life and test them in the most creative ways possible. Because we strongly believe that it takes 1,000 failures to uncover a genius solution! follow us for #patentprepping #realinovation #circularsolutions

Last month, we broke our 'Return-on-Innovation' record! Imagine this: You bring in (us) a sustainable innovation agency for a turbocharged project. In just three weeks, we deliver: > 500 images > 180 ideas > 70 concepts > And 4 new products sold to a client—representing more than a couple of million euros in revenue. Yes, we did it. 🚀 Ready to accelerate your company's journey in sustainable innovation? If your business is looking to shift into high gear, let's talk! We bring unmatched knowledge, experience, creativity, and energy to the table, empowering ambitious companies to achieve extraordinary results. #circularleadership #sustainableinnovation #resultdriveninnovation #bettervaluefromsmallinnovationspecialists

October 7, 2024—Today marks a significant milestone for our soon-to-be-launched circular startup! Together with the incredible team at KOB, we've crafted the outline of our patent, bringing us one step closer to revolutionizing circular packaging solutions. A heartfelt thank you to An Cosaert and Sander De Vrieze for their invaluable support during the previous phase. We'll be sharing more exciting updates soon. Stay tuned, especially if you're looking for innovative circular packaging solutions!