Waas Circulair - coaching and networking within a circular ecosystem
About this good practice
A 2020 study showed that the city of Sint-Niklaas has a lot of economic innovation potential. This combined with the policy goals of the Province of East-Flanders (Promoting the transition to a circular and sustainable economy) ensured that beginning 2024 the Province decided to invest €75K to appoint a CE program manager for 5 years embedded within the city council of Sint-Niklaas. This program manager developed an ecosystem (Waas Circulair) of entrepreneurs who want to adopt a circular business plan and methodology. It focuses on strengthening and accelerating the circular transformation in the region, having strong links with neighbouring municipalities.
The entrepreneurs expressed their need for more informative sessions, and thus a series of inspiration evenings were organized in COCON, the social-circular hub in Sint-Niklaas. Topics:
1) Why and how can entrepreneurs grow or start with circular entrepreneurship
2) Implementing concrete circular solutions – eventually with the help of eco-design
3) How can circular principles be integrated into the company culture
4) Importance of collaboration and networking in sustainable change
5) Circular construction and maximizing impact in the construction sector
In 2025 there will be new circular topics and events to inspire entrepreneurs for a circular mind shift.
The provincial and municipal governments are also inspired by the entrepreneurs to strengthen or change certain topics or details within their policies.
Resources needed
The Province invested 75K for a 5 year CE programme manager (=1FTE). 10% of her time goes to the Waas Circulair ecosystem.
Next 50.000 euro/year is needed to provide communication (website, social media, prints) and to organise the inspiration sessions (in 2024: 5 sessions).
Evidence of success
60 – 90 participants (“regular” entrepreneurs) who were linked with CE ambassadors, eco product designers and governments, and who are willing to become sustainable/circular through these collaborations.
At least 5 project ideas were submitted for subsidies, creating more impact on circularity level and more opportunities for product designers.
Potential for learning or transfer
All in all the GP is easily transferable because there are not too many resources, time or people needed to organise this kind of ecosystem. The CE community has proven to be a very enthusiast and strong community, and believing in it gets us already halfway. It is a formula that is easily copied by other governments.
There are no criteria for new participants, except being willing to make sustainable/circular changes, which makes it an easily accessible and open community. The fact that the network keeps growing every year is a nice confirmation of the needs and the strength of the community, also the different players within the community create a very inspiring atmosphere for entrepreneurs that don’t know anything about CE.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
