Topics
We organise our actions in six thematic & strategic agendas:
Strategic Agendas:
Bio-economy
Circular Construction
Chemicals/Plastics
Manufacturing Industry
Food Chain
Water Cycles
Seven leverages provide additional support:
Leverage effects:
Lever Policy Instruments
Lever Circular Procurement
Lever Communication
Lever Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Lever Financing
Lever Jobs & Skills
Lever Research
What, why and how?
Why are we pursuing a circular economy?
Future visions 2050
How do we see our circular future?
About our management
Who steers what at Flanders Circular?
New Project Aims for Circular Office Furnishing
Monday 21 August 2023
From student to entrepreneur, we all have one thing in common: a desk. It's a space where most of us spend a significant amount of time – a space that often evolves with our ambitions. This dynamic leads to a constant churn in the realm of office furniture. While there are existing circular solutions, the potential for improvement is substantial and the need for scaling evident. Hence, a collaboration of European partners launched the Circular Economy Office (CEO) project. Join us!
The Furniture Sector: Take-Make-Dispose
Did you know that within the EU, a staggering 10.5 million tons of office furniture are discarded annually? Yes, you read that right – 10.5 million tons, each year. Approximately 80 to 90% of this discarded furniture is either incinerated or ends up in landfills. While circular models based on repair, remanufacturing, and reuse are gradually gaining traction, it remains a niche sector.
Office Furniture: A Gigantic Market
Zooming in on office furniture, a market that generates an estimated €9 billion in annual revenue in the EU, reveals that 23% of newly produced office furniture is non-recyclable, and merely 45% is partially recyclable (data from 2021). Clearly, there's much work to be done – and untapped potential! The market for circular office furniture already boasts some mature players, contributing to a wealth of knowledge and experience ready for further scaling.
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NEW! European CEO Project
Circular Flanders, in collaboration with thirteen European partners, came together to initiate the CEO project. Our united goal is to upscale circular strategies and make circular office practices mainstream. Our aspiration is to achieve this by 2026.
Join Us on This Journey
Whether you're closely involved with office furniture or have a distant connection, if you're interested in contributing to a circular future, we invite you to join us! The first step is simple: subscribe to our project newsletter [insert link]. By doing so, you'll stay informed about all our activities and news. In early October, we're planning an information session to introduce the project, discuss expectations, and explore how you can participate.
With the CEO project, we're embracing a comprehensive approach. We look forward to building a community that includes both procurers and providers of office furniture. Through events, workshops, and more, we envision forming a robust network that views circular office practices as the norm and actively promotes them. Excited to be a part of this movement? Subscribe to our newsletter!
Recommended Reading: Circular Procurement Strategies for Your Office Setup
Case Study: Closed-Loop Office Furniture System in Flanders
Why purchase new when you have all the resources for a fresh, new interior right at hand? Embracing this philosophy, the Facility Department of the Flemish Government has had a contractual partnership with Nnof since 2019. This collaboration encompasses furniture refurbishment and a more efficient reuse of existing furniture (second-chance furniture).
Within this framework, Nnof handles the inventory of existing furniture, provides redesign expertise, and facilitates the collection of old furniture. Additionally, they manage the refurbishment, delivery, and placement of the refurbished furniture. Entities within the Flemish Government seeking to dispose of surplus furniture can engage Nnof to collect these items in exchange for credits, which can be redeemed in future purchases. Nnof then resells the furniture to entities seeking a circular office setup.
Thanks to this contractual arrangement, all Flemish municipalities and entities within the Flemish Government can benefit from a robust system for a closed-loop office furniture lifecycle. Who's ready to follow suit?
CEO project
- Start: 1 July 2023
- Project period: 2023 - 2026
- Partners: Communauté de Communes Pévèle Carembault (FR), FCBA Institut Technologique (FR), HiiCCe (D), INDEED Innovation (DE), Kringwinkel Antwerpen (BE), Malmö (SE), Ministry of Finance City of Hamburg (DE), Municipality of Copenhagen (DK), ONBETAALBAAR (BE), Oost NL (NL), Textielstad Enschede (NL), Utrecht (NL), Circular Flanders (BE) and Wood.be (BE).
- CEO is a Interreg North Seaproject. This European subsidy program supports collaborative projects between Flemish organizations and partners from the Netherlands, Denmark, parts of Germany, Sweden, Norway, and France.
