CE Centre

About us 

The CE Centre – Circular Economy Support Centre – was set up to streamline policy-relevant research in the context of the circular economy in Flanders. It brings together researchers from four universities (KU Leuven, Hasselt University, Ghent University, University of Antwerp) and VITO.  

Together, they are building on the research results of previous support centres:

  • SuMMa, which was active from 2012 to 2016.  

  • Circular economy support centre, active from 2017 to 2021.  

The current support centre CE Centre is active from 2022 to 2026. It is funded by OVAM and the Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI). 

Check the management agreement

of the CE Centre 

Policy research

Wanted

Companies looking to build circular business processes

Policy research

controle kamer

Policy research

Long and short-term assignments 

The support centre combines long-term research with short-term assignments. For example, researchers work on specific cases that cut straight through all research domains. An example: how can policy influence the use of bio-based materials, from raw material and product development to use and end-of-life? 

5 topics

The CE Centre explores 5 topics:

  1. Further development of the CE Monitor
  2. Scenario development on circular economy and trend monitoring
  3. Socioeconomic effects of the policy
  4. Judicial bottlenecks
  5. Discourse, behaviour and steering strategies

Discover them in detail.

5 topics

The CE Center focuses on 5 topics:

  • Further development of the CE Monitor
  • Scenario development around the circular economy and trend monitoring
  • Socio-economic effects of policy
  • Legal bottlenecks
  • Discourse, behavior, and steering strategies

Discover them in detail.

Own publications

Find here all the publications of the CE Center

publicatie 39

39. Enhancing knowledge and skills for a repair society

Het behalen van de Vlaamse doelstellingen voor circulaire economie en klimaat vereist dat herstellingen gewoner en toegankelijker worden. Een belangrijk obstakel daarbij is het tekort aan...
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publicatie 38

38. Integrating material flows into macro-economic modelling

Dit rapport bouwt verder op een eerder gebruikt Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model voor België: het werd uitgebreid met indicatoren voor materiaalproductiviteit Hiermee werd de impact van drie...
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publicatie 37

37. Retention of title clauses in PaaS contracts

In Product-as-a-Service (PaaS)-contracten blijft de dienstverlener eigenaar van het als een dienst aangeboden product en verleent hij enkel gebruiksrechten aan de klant. Wanneer dat product echter...
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publicatie 36

36. Circular textiles: policy options against product destruction

De textielindustrie kampt met een toenemend afvalprobleem met aanzienlijke negatieve milieueffecten. Eén aspect van dit afvalprobleem is de vernietiging van onverkochte of teruggestuurde...
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publicatie 35

35. Promoting circular economy within the environmental permit (procedure)

De omgevingsvergunning wordt als een krachtig instrument beschouwd om de overgang naar meer duurzamere bouwprojecten (met inbegrip van circulaire ambities) te faciliteren. Deze juridisch-theoretische...
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Covers CE Center_34

34. Green public procurement and the circular economy

Incorporating green clauses in public contracts is gradually becoming an obligation in certain sectors in the European Union. For example, among other things, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products...
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Herstelindicatoren - 33

33. Repair indicators. CE monitor background document

This document provides further guidance on the indicators, as shown on cemonitor.be, which given an overview of repairs. More specifically, these are the Repair Indicator Repair Sector
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Repairing resources

32. Repairing resources. Mapping the scale and value of repair to the circular economy in Flanders

This background report provides some further guidance in calculating the repair figures in the CE Monitor.
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31. Lifespan extension of products European and national initiatives

As part of the European Union's Green Deal, the European legislature has drafted legislation to transform the European economy into a circular economy. One of the focal points of that legislation is...
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Model clauses for Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) contracts

30. Model clauses for Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) contracts

The transition to a circular economy requires adapted business models. Service-oriented business models may possibly be a solution in this regard. One promising model is product-as-a-service (PaaS)...
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Methodology for systematic data collection of wood

29. Methodology for systematic data collection of wood

This report presents a framework for a comprehensive analysis of timber flows, which is essential for meeting reporting obligations, making well-informed decisions about future planning and investment...
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Weaving a circular workforce: competences in a circular textile industry in Flanders

28. Weaving a circular workforce: competences in a circular textile industry in Flanders

This study offers insights into the jobs and skills deemed important in the circular economy (CE) transition of the textile industry in Flanders. It highlights the central role of management positions...
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Impacts of circular economy on climate targets: M-level in construction and renovation

27. Impacts of circular economy on climate targets: M-level in construction and renovation

This study looking at potential investigated the effect of introducing an M-level on the environmental impact of new construction and renovation of residential buildings in Flanders. The M-level is...
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BTW in een circulaire economie rapport

26. VAT in a circular economy

This report illustrates the relationship between VAT and the circular economy, and provides some indications of where VAT may play a role in the transition from a linear to a circular model.
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Overzicht van bestaande doelstellingen voor de circulaire economie rapport

25. Overview of existing circular economy objectives

The transition to a circular economy (CE) is a long-term policy priority in Flanders. To guide this transition, objectives are necessary.
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Socio-economic effects of the circular economy rapport

24. Socio-economic effects of the circular economy

For this study, an existing macroeconomic model for Belgium was refined with a view to using it to support circular economy policy making.
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Learning effects in roadmaps

23. Learning effects in roadmaps

This study conducted a review of 10 recent roadmaps in a sustainability context to analyse the use of learning effects . Specific measures were divided into different categories based on (i) two types...
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Narratives of repair: electronic consumer devices in the circular economy

22. Narratives of repair: electronic consumer devices in the circular economy

This report focuses on different discourses on the repair of consumer electronic devices in Flanders. It identifies four discourses that entail different political choices for policymakers. Two...
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publicatie 21

21. An economy wide circularity assessment in Flanders

Following the material flow analysis of Flanders over the period 2002-2018, published in 2020, this study introduces the relationship between material flows in and out of the Flemish economy and...
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Circular economy indicators for the food system

20. Circular economy indicators for the food system

This report is part of ongoing research by the Circular Economy Support Centre to develop a monitor to guide the transition to a circular economy in Flanders. This report presents a guiding framework...
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Circular economy indicators for buildings and housing

19. Circular economy indicators for buildings and housing

This report presents a Circular Economy monitor for the societal need fulfilment system of buildings and housing . It is part of the CE monitor of the policy research center. The indicators of this...
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Grass management: mobilisation strategies & a circular perspective

18. Grass management: mobilisation strategies & a circular perspective

This report examines 6 mobilisation strategies for grass from verges and natural areas in Flanders, complemented by a holistic circular perspective on grass as a secondary resource.
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Circular economy and the energy transition – potential of a Flemish circularity hub for EV Li-ion batteries

17. Circular economy and the energy transition - potential of a Flemish circularity hub for EV Li-ion batteries

This short-term assignment illustrates the insights that policymakers can gain by taking a "strategic inventory management" perspective for assessing the potential of circular strategies in managing...
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Consumer expectations circular business models - supplier perspective

16. Consumer expectations circular business models - supplier perspective

In "Vision 2050. A long-term strategy for Flanders', the transition to the circular economy is one of the seven transition priorities . The development of new business models can play a role in this...
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Consumer Attitudes towards Circular Business Models and Activities

15. Consumer Attitudes towards Circular Business Models and Activities.

In this study, we look at the willingness of consumers to consider and use circular business models (CBMs) . We assess the 'suitability' of a product or sector for a given circular business model from...
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Circular economy indicators for consumer goods

14. Circular economy indicators for consumer goods

This report is part of the ongoing research at the Policy Research Centre for Circular Economy to create a framework for a monitor to guide the transition to a circular economy in Flanders. This...
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Reuse. The understudied circular economy strategy

13 - Reuse. The understudied circular economy strategy

This report addresses the blind spots in current research on the little-studied circular phenomenon of reuse and the variety of formal (i.e., incorporated into our economy through regulated economic...
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Impact of circular economy on achieving the climate targets: case housing

12. Impact of circular economy on achieving the climate targets: case housing

This report studied the contribution of the circular economy in achieving the climate goals for residential housing. The objectives in the proposal of the Flemish climate policy plan relate to...
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Macro-economic material flow indicators for Flanders 2002-2018

11. Macroeconomic material flow indicators for Flanders 2002-2018

Maarten Christis and An Vercalsteren (VITO)
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Circular economy indicators for person mobility and transport

10. Circular economy indicators for person mobility and transport

This report presents the indicator set of the mobility system, as part of the CE monitor being developed in the Support Centre. The indicators show that the current state of the mobility system is far...
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Car sharing in Flanders rapport

9. Car-sharing in Flanders

This report lays out the details of the study conducted by researchers at the Support Centre for Circular Economy. The report includes the results of a consumer survey with more than 2,000 respondents...
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Biomass Flows in the Flemish Economy

8. Biomass Flows in the Flemish Economy.

This short-term assignment is aimed to improve our understanding regarding the data availability of biomass flows in the Flemish economy, and develops a methodology to estimate biomass flows between...
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Modelling job creation in the circular economy in Flanders

7. Modelling job creation in the circular economy in Flanders

May 2019 This research report, which falls within the Circular Economy Support Centre, is the second output of the research line in which the employment and actors in the circular economy are studied...
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Impact of Circular Economy on achieving the climate targets: case mobility

6. Impact of Circular Economy on achieving the climate targets: case mobility

Maarten Christis (VITO), An Vercalsteren (VITO) May 2019 This study draws on the draft version of the Flemish Climate Policy Plan and examines the reduced climate impact of specific measures and...
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CO2 mineralisation for sustainable construction materials

5. CO2 mineralisation for sustainable construction materials

April 2019 The production of Portland cement (PC) currently accounts for 8-10% of global man-made CO₂ emissions. PC and PC-based mixtures are by far the most widely used binding agents in concrete...
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Towards a circular economy monitor for Flanders: a conceptual basis

4. Towards a circular economy monitor for Flanders: a conceptual basis

January 2019 This text details the circular economy monitor concept, under development within the Circular Economy Support Centre. This concept is the result of combining academic expertise, insights...
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Employment impact of the transition to a circular economy: literature study

3. Employment impact of the transition to a circular economy: literature study

September 2018 This research report, which falls within the Circular Economy Support Centre, is the first output of the research line in which the employment and actors in the circular economy are...
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Exploration of the plastic recycling landscape in Flanders

2. Exploration of the plastic recycling landscape in Flanders

June 2018 To highlight and analyse potential barriers and opportunities in the sector for recycling post-consumer plastics in Flanders, available data sources were summarised and relevant sector...
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Indicators for a Circular Economy

1. Indicators for a Circular Economy.

This study focuses on material-related indicators, but we want to emphasise the fact that when it comes to monitoring the circular economy, a clear link with other indicators related to climate, water...
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