Indicator
By looking at the amounts of secondary materials consumed in the port area, this indicator gives weight to the scale at which circularity is being practiced, rather than only looking at the number of companies engaged in it. Secondary raw materials have been recovered or recycled from waste or by-products. When they are used as input for new production processes, they reduce the need for primary raw materials. Secondary raw materials can either be generated within the port area or transported into the port area from elsewhere. The port area is defined as the geographical territory managed by the Port Management Body.
How to measure its value
List of (main) manufacturing companies can be provided by the PMB. A survey of the manufacturing companies in the port area will provide data for primary and secondary material consumption.
Limitations
- Confidentiality policies or other difficulties may limit data accessibility. In the 2026 Flemish study, the 10 mayor material consumers were chosen as proxy due to this issue.
- The indicator does not reflect the rationale of companies to opt for secondary raw materials. Nor does it take into account the potential to move from primary to secondary raw materials.
- Currently (re)use of water, energy and CO2 have not been taken into account.
Recommended Read
Website grondstoffenverklaring OVAM