Ecological and inclusive transition
Research theme
To counter the climate change and resource scarcity, we desperately need to change our current method of production and consumption. With this research, we develop concrete tools to help realise the actual and timely transition to circular economy. Via sustainable collaborations between organisations, sheltered workshops and enterprises, authorities and citizens, we arrive at innovative, sustainable, and inclusive processes. We support them in the development and marketing of sustainable and inclusive services, systems, or products.
And all of this with the required attention to mindset and behavioural change.
As that is the only way to strengthen the transition towards a circular and inclusive economy.
Getting started with sustainability
What are we researching and for whom?
We are in the middle of the transition to circular economy. The purpose is clear, but we do not know what are the right actions to achieve that objective as well as possible. We also often get the feeling that we can only make a little difference. That is where we want to offer support with our research. We start up sustainable collaborations between organisations, sheltered workshops and enterprises, authorities and citizens, to realise innovative, sustainable, and inclusive processes. We also support organisations, sheltered workshops and companies in the development and marketing of sustainable and inclusive services, systems, or products. We do this together with the (final) users and other stakeholders. Finally, every change, and so this transition too, automatically gives rise to insecurity and resistance. That is not only the case with employees, but also with citizens for instance, or links from a certain supply chain. That is why the focus is on our mindset and behavioural change where needed.
Desired outcome
With this research, we take care of social added value in ecological, economical, and social field. We speed up and guarantee the transition to a circular and inclusive economy.
Research lines
Building ecosystems
In order to transform our economy into circular economy, we will have to collaborate to get to new solutions. The transition is required in the field of processes, collaborations, and systems (e.g. process optimisation, building new chains, linking chains together, new funding methods, new logistical systems like reverse logistics etc.). We want to connect stakeholders. After all, it is important that we understand well what is our own reality and that of the other stakeholders. That is why we search for levers and barriers to make it more sustainable, and as such overcome the existing challenges, and facilitate sustainable collaborations.
Developing and marketing
To use our time and energy as efficient as possible during the development and marketing stage of sustainable and inclusive developments, it is important to involve among other the future (vulnerable) users and the total chain during the design stage and when choosing the most appropriate circular business model.
Mindset and behavioral change
Not only consumers and employees (change management) must be provided in the transition. Also governments, links in a chain, and even links across chains must collaborate in the transition. That is why it is important to find out what is the cause of the resistance in order to be able to remove it via certain methodologies.
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