Brussels' Regional Programme for Circular Economy (BRPCE) is the capital region's comprehensive strategy for transforming its economic model from linear consumption patterns to circular, resource-efficient systems. The programme supports 111 innovative projects across a range of sectors, systematically reshaping how the city produces, consumes, and manages resources in pursuit of environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and job creation.
The programme's focus areas reflect the specific opportunities and challenges of a dense, service-oriented European capital. In construction, BRPCE supports material banks and reuse platforms that divert building materials from landfill and channel them back into new construction projects, reducing both waste and demand for virgin resources. In urban logistics, AI-powered optimisation tools are being developed to consolidate deliveries, reduce empty vehicle kilometres, and shift freight to lower-emission modes.
Food systems represent another major pillar, with projects targeting the reduction of food waste across the supply chain, the redistribution of surplus food to those in need, and the development of short-circuit food networks that connect Brussels residents directly with regional producers. Digital platforms for sharing and repair further extend the circular economy into household consumption, making it easier for residents to access goods and services without ownership.
Green public procurement standards ensure that the regional government leads by example, using its purchasing power to drive demand for circular products and services. Demonstration projects in circular construction showcase how new and renovated buildings can be designed for disassembly, material recovery, and adaptive reuse.
BRPCE positions Brussels as a European leader in circular economy innovation, demonstrating that a mid-sized capital region can take systemic action to decouple economic activity from resource depletion. The programme's integrated approach — combining regulation, innovation support, public procurement, and citizen engagement — offers a transferable framework for other cities pursuing similar transitions.