Assessing Belgium's circularity - Enhancing indicators for comprehensive material flow analysis

Details

Supervisors

Vannoorenberghe, Gonzague

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [60] en sciences économiques, orientation générale

Abstract

The concept of the circular economy has garnered significant attention, emerging as a central theme in political strategies, particularly within the European Union. Europe has established various tracking indicators to assess the circularity of the economy and the impact of the measures it has committed to implementing. The circular economy concept has also gained significant traction in Belgium, aligning with the broader European movement. This research paper is centered around a pivotal question: "How can Belgium's circular economy be comprehensively evaluated through the identification of existing indicators, while also addressing their limitations? Furthermore, how can novel indicators be proposed within the framework of material flows?" The objective of this study is to thoroughly examine the existing European methodologies employed to assess the circularity of Belgium's economy. This exploration places particular emphasis on the analysis of material flows. The research navigates through available methodologies and indicators to provide a comprehensive discussion on Belgium's circularity. Additionally, the paper is committed to identifying specific indicators capable of bridging gaps that arise during the evaluation process. These discerned gaps serve as the focal point of a dedicated section, wherein innovative indicators are selected and computed. This process seeks to elevate the precision of circularity assessment, utilising Belgium as a case study.