Extending & Improving the Mineral Resources Lifespans : Opportunities, Challenges & Perspectives.

Through dynamic industrial partnerships within the Grande Région*, the Circular Wallonia Days are a two-day event designed to connect regional ecosystems from all over the EU, which are involved in the value chain of eco-materials for construction.
It is to take place on 21 and 22 May 2025, in Mons, Wallonia, Belgium.
This will be a chance to showcase and share Good Practices and experience in one of Europe's greatest challenges in achieving strategic autonomy for mineral materials.

*this includes the Liège and Luxembourg Provinces in Wallonia - Belgium, French Lorraine, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the two German Länder Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.

As Wallonia takes over the Presidency of the Grande Région (Lorraine, Luxembourg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Wallonia) starting 1 January, the Region seizes this opportunity to lead discussions on achieving true circularity in the construction sector with all EU Regions, with an ambition of sharing the best practices available within the European Union.
It will also enable to showcase its innovative projects in the mineral industry to the rest of Europe.

This event is open to all stakeholders in the circular minerals value chain.

It offers a unique opportunity for the European mineral industry to engage in discussions about collaborative projects in Wallonia—a region at the forefront of innovation, spearheading groundbreaking initiatives in mineral circularity.

Key Topics:

> Advancing Legislation with Circular Techniques in the Mineral Construction Sector
> Economic Sustainability of the Circular Material Model
> Contribution of Circularity in Minerals to Sustainable Construction: Inspiration from EU Regions
> REMIND Wallonia: A New European Mineral Valley
> Eco-Design of Circular Materials
> End-of-Waste and the Right Materials in the Right Place
> Extending the Lifespan of Construction Materials
> Resistance to Change in Circular Practices (NIMBY)
> Innovation Talks: Presentation of Walloon and EU Projects in Mineral Circularity for Construction

Additional Highlights:

> Site Visits: Explore innovative projects in action.
> B2B Sessions: Connect with key stakeholders and potential collaborators.

Programme

DAY 1:

09.00 >09.30 WELCOME COFFEE

09.30 > 13.00 – Plenary Session*

• European integrated circular construction sector
• Leveraging Available Circular Techniques to Drive Progress in European Legislation
• Keys to a profitable and sustainable circular model
• Contribution of Circularity in Minerals to Sustainable Construction: Inspiration from EU Regions/ Dutch case
• Innovation Talks

13.00 > 14.00 – NETWORKING LUNCH & SHOWCASES

14.00 > 17.30 – Regional Scope

• Wallonia: End of waste : Context and Future Perspectives on Mineral Circularity
• ‘REMIND Wallonia’, contributions to the European Mineral Valley
• MC2: 'Mineral Circular Centre': Walloon reference hub for the decarbonisation of the earth and stone industry and the circularity of mineral materials
• Walloon Projects Pitching
• Eco-conception of circular materials
• Accelerating circularity from a sufficiency perspective (refuse & reduce)
• Wrap-up & Conclusions of Day 1

17.30 > 20.00 NETWORKING DINNER

 

DAY 2:

09.00 > 09.30 WELCOME COFFEE

09.30 > 12.30 – Workshops*

• End-of-Waste and Right materials in the right place
• Extension of the lifespan of construction materials (REUSE)
• Resistance to change in the face of circularity – Tackling the NIMBY phenomenon

12.15 > 13.00 NETWORKING LUNCH

13.00 > 18.00 Site visits around Mons

 * including coffee breaks

 

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for registration !

Please note: This event is not livestreamed and is exclusively available to registered in-person participants.

 

20/01/2025