This short-term assignment attempts to improve our understanding of the data availability of biomass flows within the Flemish economy and develops a methodology to approximate the flow of biomass between different industries.
This needs to be done in order to maximise their potential and reduce unnecessary waste flows. However, the report finds that the data currently available are insufficient, and considers that the construction of a physical counterpart to monetary input/output tables might be the answer.
The production of Portland cement (PC) is responsible for 8-10 % of the global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. PC and PC-based blends are the most common binder in concrete production (< 99 % of cases). As PC is accountable for 74-81% of the CO2 footprint, substantial climate impact reductions for concrete requires eco-innovation at the cement level.
One of the most promising technologies to lower CO2 emissions consists in partially replacing traditional PC with industrial byproducts displaying cementitious properties, such as blast furnace slag from iron production, or coal combustion fly ashes from power generation, but their availability and properties are rather constrained.
A diversification of local (secondary) raw materials to extend partial substitution of PC is ongoing.
This study aims to gain insight into how the transition to a more circular economy could impact the labour market, with a focus on net job creation or loss, job creation at different skill levels and geographical job concentration.
The methodology used was a combination of literature review and exploratory data analysis, the latter mainly focused on the Belgian region of Flanders.
It concluded that the transition will positively affect employment for vulnerable groups and reduce overall unemployment. The transition also has the potential to reduce the educational and geographical mismatches present in the Flemish labour market.
However, opportunities will vary between regions and the quality of jobs is key (some jobs in the waste sector are 'dirty jobs').
Following the study on the material flow analysis for Flanders in the period 2002-2018, which was published by the Circular Economy Policy Research Center in June 2020, this study introduces the link between the material flows in and out of the Flemish economy and the material flows within the Flemish economy.
This report is part of the ongoing research at the Policy Research Centre for Circular Economy to create a monitoring instrument to guide the transition to a circular economy in Flanders. This report presents a guiding framework specifically for circular economy in the food system and provides a first set of indicators to monitor the food system.
This report presents a circular economy monitor for the societal need fulfillment system of buildings and housing in Flanders. It is part of the CE monitor of the Circular Economy Policy Research Center.
This report is part of the ongoing research conducted by the Circular Economy Policy Research Center on creating a framework for a monitor to guide the transition to a circular economy in Flanders. It presents a set of indicators for the system of consumer goods, revealing how this system performs in relation to circular economy principles.
This report addresses blind spots in current research about the understudied circular phenomenon of reuse. It also explores the variety of channels for reuse, both formal (i.e. included in our economy through regulated economic units and protected workers) and informal (i.e. part of an informal economy in which transactions are not registered).
This report provides background data for the update of four macro indicators key to monitoring the circular economy: domestic material consumption (DMC), direct material input (DMI), raw material consumption (RMC) and raw material input (RMI).
This report presents the set of indicators comprising the mobility system. The indicators show that the mobility system is far from circular and is in fact becoming more linear. It is consuming ever greater amounts of materials, with more vehicles which are used less intensively and efficiently. The modal shift towards public transport or bicycles is simply not progressing.
