Circular Business Models

Throughout this course, you will explore new, alternative strategies and practical tools to transition towards a circular business model. The emphasis is on overcoming financial and legal barriers, with the ultimate goal of enabling companies to develop profitable and future-proof circular strategies. You will learn how to generate long-term value by integrating circularity into your core operations.

Guided by leading experts from academia and industry, you’ll gain access to innovative frameworks and real-world examples that empower you to actively shape the sustainable economy of tomorrow.

This programme is ideal for professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the business dimensions of circularity and discover viable, profitable solutions. Participants typically include CEO's, business managers, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, CFOs, business advisors, investors, corporate lawyers, and sustainability experts.

1. Circular strategies: drivers and opportunities

Thursday 19 March 2026 - Circômplex, Ghent

• Introduction
• Circular strategies and value creation - Prof. Karel Van Acker, KU Leuven
• How to implement circular business models - Johan Bonner, Material Mastery
• Study visit: Circômplex - Johan Bonner, Material Mastery

2. Value proposition in the circular economy

Thursday 2 April 2026 - KU Leuven, Campus Ghent

• Valuation of circular products - Sofie Rapsaet, SURA
• Circular value in the building industry - Armelle Windels, Wienerberger
• Workshop: From a linear to a circular value chain
• Study visit: Living Lab Circular and Bio-Based Construction Industry - Jesse Honsa, KU Leuven & Wim Pieters, CIRCL

3. Financing circular business models

Thursday 23 April 2026 - Circularium, Brussels

• Key considerations for successfully financing circular business plans - Johan Keppens, PMV
• Financing as-a-service models - Hilde Janssens, Econocom
• Workshop: Circular financial models - Stefaan Quinart, Navius
• Study visit: Circularium - Gerd De Wilde, makettt

4. Contracts and procurement in circular business models

Thursday 7 May 2026 - ZAS CADIX, Antwerpen

• Legal considerations for circular business models - Benjamin Verheye, KU Leuven & Notarissen Hendrickx & Verheye
• Contractual rights and liabilities of as-a-service models - Christopher Borucki, KU Leuven
• Circular procurement and public procurement legislation - Alexander Lemmens, Agentschap Facilitair Bedrijf, Vlaamse Overheid
• Study visit: Circularity in Healthcare - Annelies Casteleyn, ZAS

5. Risk and 'waste' management in the circular economy

Thursday 21 May 2026 - Cocon, Sint-Niklaas

• Risk management in circular business models - Sara Adam, Group Casier
• Waste legislation - Elias Van Gool, KU Leuven
• Circular strategies @ Barco - Dries Vanneste, Barco
• Study visit: Cocon

6. Circular value chains

Thursday 4 June 2026 - Circular Materials Center, Kortrijk

• Building partnerships for a circular value chain - Katrijn Goethals, Samsonite
• Engaging for circularity: how to get people on board? - Prof. Marie-Julie Debruyne, Université de Namur
• Workshop: What to learn from existing circular strategies? - Bruno Vermoesen, BSH Appliances
• Study visit: Circular Materials Center