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In brief

​Circular purchasing is a new way of purchasing for companies, with people, the planet, and the pocket in mind. It is a process where you ‘buy change’, for example by opting for reusable materials, by choosing bio-based or biodegradable materials, by pooling products and resources or sharing them with other organisations, or by buying the use of a product instead of the product itself.

​Circular Flanders, The Shift, VVSG, and Bond Beter Leefmilieu together set up a ‘Green Deal Circular Purchasing’ project in 2017 because DOING is better than talking about it. Over 100 organisations have committed themselves to set up two circular purchasing projects in the coming two years. Some 50 supporting organisations will also put their expertise to use to help the buyers in these experiments and to share what is learned with other buyers.​

Commitments

​Buyers have committed themselves to successfully completing two circular purchasing projects between June 2017 and June 2019.

By the end of 2017, we already expect facilitators to have submitted a fully developed project proposal with a clear commitment to deploy their expertise to create value within the Green Deal Circular purchasing network.​

Unique learning network

​The participants of the Green Deal together make up a learning network. The result of this learning network will be unique in Europe: over 200 experiments in which knowledge and experience are accrued, and in which tools, methods, and new forms of chain cooperation are tested, all with the goal of closing the material cycles. Manufacturers and suppliers are also involved. This is because circular purchasing can only succeed in dialogue with the market and when we seek circular solutions in a partnership.

We bring the buyers and facilitators together four times a year to have them inspired by Flemish and international cases. On these days, besides getting inspiration, we also tackle concrete issues raised by the buyers, while looking at tools and measuring instruments. We discover together what transition management means for purchasing, we explore the possibilities of new legislation relating to the work of the government, and a great deal more.

We offer basic training through an online teaching platform (only for participants) because some organisations already have some experience, while others are still very much in their infancy. Then all participants are given the opportunity to learn at their own pace at times that suit them best.