Flemish Green Deal Circular Procurement (Green Deal Circulair Aankopen)

Inspired by the Dutch Green Deals, the steering committee applied a ‘learning by practice’ approach to promote circular procurement in Flanders. They set up a Green Deal for Circular Procurement (GDCP) to stimulate experimentation, knowledge building and demonstrating the feasibility of circular procurement in practice. Procuring organisations were asked to commit to two circular procurement pilot projects. Facilitators brought their expertise to the table and created value within the network by at least two supporting projects. The response was overwhelming: 101 public and private procurers and 52 facilitators signed the GDCP. All of them participated in a learning network, sharing knowledge and experiences. Learning was supported online by a shared learning platform, containing webinars, a legislation Q&A, a circular toolbox for procurers and a library. Eight offline action and inspiration days brought participants together to support networking, map sectoral ambitions and needs, and create partnerships and peer-to-peer learning. As well as offering specific expertise and showing good practices. Two Buyer meets Supplier events allowed procurers to meet circular suppliers and get acquainted with their products and offers. Suppliers gained an understanding in the circular demand and thresholds perceived by procurers. An online tool was developed to aid procurers in setting goals and ambitions by selecting strategies to achieve them goals and following up on their progress.