Europe’s transition to a more circular economy is a systemic, complex and evolutionary process. In the overall context of the Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission and Eurostat have established a European Circular Economy Monitoring Framework  focusing on aspects of the circular economy related to resource use and waste management. A richer and more complete monitoring framework not only facilitates a better understanding of the circular economy, but also aims to track the progress made and identify where more work is needed to achieve this transition.

In 2021, Circular Flanders launched a Circular Economy Monitor to observe the maturity of the circular economy in Flanders and the speed at which it is progressing. The Circular Economy Monitor is the first version of a work in progress. The researchers at the CE Centre will gradually fill data gaps through further research. The link with the strategic policy agendas also needs to be further developed, so that policy measures can be linked to concrete indicators in the monitor. Circular Flanders and the CE Centre will therefore continue to invest in further extensions, updates and adaptations of the Monitor in the coming years.

At the same time, a new Flemish Port Strategy 2030 has been operationalised through the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), while individual Flemish ports are gradually adopting circular strategies and activities. Once ports have defined their strategies, setting targets supported by appropriate indicators is a logical next step.

While ports have only recently started to focus on the circular economy, there are relevant initiatives in the international port sector to connect with or learn from. EcoPorts, for example, is the main environmental initiative of the European port sector. Launched in 1997, it has been fully integrated into the European European Sea Port Organisation (ESPO) since 2011.