Back in 1931, EMMA was founded as a social enterprise for injured workers from the Dutch State Mines. Hence, social entrepreneurship is in the DNA of EMMA Safety Footwear. Today, EMMA still employs about 100 people who need some additional support in the labour market. Making sustainable safety shoes was, therefore, a logical next step in EMMA’s journey towards a positive footprint.
The cooperative company Tradecowall manages construction and demolition waste in the Belgian Walloon region and comprises a network of companies working with inert waste recycling centres in the region.
SCALITE® is a material made completely from fish scales, a by-product of the fishing industry. The material is manufactured in stone-like blocks which are suited to many applications in interior design and decoration for the hospitality and retail sectors, offices and homes.
Recyclo aims to be a catalyst for the circular economy, helping urban areas be more resource efficient through better waste management and recovery.
It is a cooperative, which identifies problems, proposes solutions and helps implement them. It provides consultancy, training and business development, with the objective of raising awareness about urban waste. It works with public authorities, businesses and civic platforms, promoting a zero waste approach.
It works with waste management companies, and has set up a collection service geared to the needs of businesses. It has also organised a network of compost sites across Brussels, supplied with organic waste by restaurants and bars.
EtMoi@Work is a Belgium-based circular, social, economy project. It consists of the production of a collection of office articles: badge holders, card holders, cushions for office chairs and new masks in silk by local prisoners. It is a circular economy project, since all its productions use recycled conference lanyards, silk ties and scarves that are no longer worn and, if possible, old jewelry.
In May 2019, the Belgium-based fruit and vegetable cutting business Allgro set up its own water plant. The facility turns wastewater into drinking water, thereby slashing the food company’s mains water consumption.
Peecycle aims to reduce the production and import of fertilisers from all over the world while making more efficient use of an inexhaustible source of minerals which is currently viewed as waste: urine!
The Ressourcerie Namuroise in Belgium provides collection and processing services for bulky household waste, while also helping people with scant marketable skills to break into the labour market. In 2017, the cooperative established a partnership with Namur's waste management authority, which enabled municipalities to outsource the collection of bulky items with a view to their reuse.
Korp is a B2B platform which enables companies to exchange goods and services for goods and services.
The idea is that businesses can expand without having to lay out the cash first, and unwanted items are circulated rather than being disposed of as waste. Purchases and sales are settled via the in-house "currency" Korp credits, where I Korp credit is equal to 1 euro. Only verified businesses can join the network.
Services include marketing, communication and printing, while goods would include wine, furniture and advertising items. There have been 37 million swaps so far...
Korp is also a way for businesses to find new clients and show off their expertise.
