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?
CircuBestek
Platform for circular specifications
Currently, not many specification texts of circular materials and techniques can be found, so they are not prescribed enough. Writers who are convinced of circular construction often have to draft the texts themselves, but that requires time and experience, which they hardly have. As a result, they also drop out more easily. These are all missed opportunities to make the construction industry more circular.
Through this project, editorial office Palindroom, together with VIBE and Blieberg, wants to draft widely applicable specification texts for circular products and solutions and make them readily available on an online platform. In this way, we want to boost the prescription of circular materials and techniques and stimulate the transition to circular construction. As a result, manufacturers will also see the demand for circular solutions increase.
Specifically, we achieved two things: on the one hand, we developed a product database of circular materials and products; on the other, we created brand-neutral specification texts for all those products. Both components are integrated within the Circubuild website.
To ensure that the platform matches market expectations, we put together an expert panel of ten manufacturers and ten architects who gave input and tested the system.
Redactiebureau Palindroom
Partners VIBE Blieberg
Sectors
Themes
Organisations
Website
MOST IMPORTANT
RESULTS
- We first compiled a list of objective criteria that can help judge whether a product or material is circular. This was necessary for our project, but can certainly also serve as a frame of reference for other projects.
- Based on the criteria list, we compiled a database with some 100 product sheets of circular products and materials. Besides the product sheets, the database contains explanations of circular principles, technical sheets, photos, labels ...
- For the products in the database, we have written brand-neutral specification texts that specifiers can use for their specifications for circular construction projects. This was done in strong consultation with the Flemish Society for Social Housing (VMSW).
- For our specification texts, we followed the annotation method of the VMSW's specifications book, which is used by many architects. This way, we lower the threshold for visiting our platform. The VMSW is going to renew its specifications book and will adopt many of our texts.
MOST IMPORTANT
LESSONS LEARNED
- The project duration of two years seems long, but it is not. It is crucial to start with a detailed timing and follow it up carefully and adjust where necessary.
- Even if each party has its own task and does not need the other for it, regular consultation is very important to keep all noses in the same direction.
- In two years time, people with important roles within the project may find different challenges. By writing everything out clearly on a regular basis, the continuity of the project can still be guaranteed.
- Even though we offer a free service and information, it is still difficult to receive input from third parties. It is also important to keep the threshold sufficiently low in this respect.
WHAT DOES
THE FUTURE HOLD?
We are launching a promotional campaign for Circubestek and the product database. On the one hand, we want to encourage prescribers to use it; on the other, we want to encourage manufacturers to upload product sheets. We also want to commit to keeping the database continuously updated, both technically and in terms of content. Therefore, we will charge manufacturers a small fee from May 2024.
Furthermore, we expect a lot from the launch of the VMSW's new parent chargebook, which will include many texts from Circubestek.
