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  • Creating synergies between companies
    Creating synergies between companies
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    Intercompany opportunities

The IRISPHERE programme, coordinated by citydev.brussels, seeks to boost the development of the circular economy in the Brussels-Capital Region. Its ambition is twofold: to guide Brussels companies to improve materials cycles and to reinforce cooperation between companies on the regional level. The IRISPHERE team will assist you free of charge in setting up materials and services synergies.

Applying a tried and tested methodology, the IRISPHERE team will provide you with individual or collective guidance in order to identify, assess, and seize economic opportunities between companies on a local scale. That way, you’ll be developing sustainable partnerships for reusing materials or sharing facilities, resources, and services.

The IRISPHERE programme, which will run until 2021, is led by a broad consortium of Brussels actors who are circular economy pioneers. That consortium consists of citydev.brussels, EcoRes, Lateral Thinking Factory, Greenloop, BECI, La Ferme Nos Pilifs, Hub.brussels, Bruxelles Environnement, Bruxelles-Propreté, the Port of Brussels and the Communauté Portuaire Bruxelloise.

IRISPHERE receives support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Brussels-Capital Region, and provides a free service to improve your company’s circularity.

 

Opportunities between companies

IRISPHERE is looking to experiment with industrial ecology on a city scale. Industrial ecology takes its cue from natural ecosystems in order to reorganize economic activities and the flow management for those economic activities. The starting point is setting up an industrial symbiosis between companies, simultaneously improving those companies’ bottom line and environmental performance.

IRISPHERE analyzed the symbioses present in nature and mapped out three which can also be applied in a (peri-)urban context, such as the Brussels-Capital Region.

 

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Three types of synergy

With the introduction of the Programme Régional en Économie Circulaire (PREC - Regional Circular Economy Programme), Brussels would like to boost the economy and turn environmental targets into economic opportunities.

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For additional information, don't hesitate to contact us:

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Exchange of flows

This is the most symbolic form of industrial ecology synergy. Flows are exchanged when materials or energy go from Company A to Company B. Company A gives a residual material or by-product to Company B, which uses it instead of a new resource. The reused material is called a “secondary resource”.
Exchange of flows

Pooled purchasing of materials, services, and facilities

In this form of symbiosis, different companies jointly buy materials, services, and facilities from a single supplier.

As a result, costs of purchase, delivery, and use can be reduced.
Pooled purchasing of materials, services, and facilities

Creating an intermediate processing activity

This form of synergy inserts another actor between Company A and Company B. This actor, Company C, converts an outbound materials flow (from Company A) into something which can be used (by Company B). Hence, Company C creates a new product by recycling (Company A’s) materials at the end of their life cycle. That’s what we call upcycling*.

* upcycling: converting materials or products which are no longer used into materials or products of higher quality or increased functionality.
Creating an intermediate processing activity

Materials yard

The IRISPHERE programme wants to invest in a materials yard for local companies. The objective is to collect recyclable materials from local economic actors.

 

The different synergies engendered by this project would make up a non-negligible source of supply. A pilot project will be set up for the construction of this materials yard, entailing the decentralized management of organic waste using the Eco-Cleaner technology.
 
The Eco-Cleaner relies on the principle of accelerated fermentation and provides innovative solutions for the efficient and quick valorization of organic food waste. The odourless process, which releases no gas or liquids, produces a residual product, viz. a natural soil improver.  

 

During the test phase, the Eco-Cleaner will be installed at La Ferme Nos Pilifs. In a second phase, a materials yard will be constructed on the basis of the selective collection of residual materials from companies and/or other collectivities.

Who is IRISPHERE meant for?

IRISPHERE is meant for companies or associations with an economic objective, which are headquartered in the Brussels-Capital Region.

How to take part

Collective or individual workshops?
Depending on your situation, you can attend two types of workshops.
Interested? Send us your details with one click.

Circular economy

What if we repaired, recycled, and reused things, instead of throwing them away?

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Success stories

Twitter #IRISPHERE

IRISPHERE était présent hier chez BE-HERE pour le Happy Globe Likers Pluggers pour parler #economiecirculaire deva… https://t.co/sWTl9TpJor
Les entreprises bruxelloises invitées à se lancer dans l'économie circulaire https://t.co/znQW0m5b5d #IRISPHERE https://t.co/r7rK3g38Kx
Bruxelles : L’économie durable à la mode dans la Région https://t.co/trblJlV4wF #IRISPHERE https://t.co/h0cvUoE9qr
RT @ProRealestateBE: New avenue for citydev in the circular economy https://t.co/x2fCxoWhzk #RealEstate #circulareconomy #Brussels https://…
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IRISPHERE is supported by a broad consortium of Brussels actors who are circular economy pioneers as well as by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Brussels-Capital Region.

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I’d like to join

Would you like individual assistance? Fill out the company fact sheet and send it to us along with your cover letter.

Download the company fact sheet    Download the cover letter

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: info@irisphere.brussels

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