On May 21–22, 2025, the city of Mons, Belgium, hosted the international conference “Fifty Shades of Minerals”, dedicated to extending and improving the lifespan of mineral resources. Organized by Greenwin and Circular Wallonia, the event brought together experts to explore solutions for a more circular and sustainable industrial future.
Bernard Mathieu, founder of HOP3 Consulting, co-led an interactive half-day workshop titled “Resistance to Changes in the Face of Circularity”, together with Françoise Scheepers, Strategic Communications Manager at Greenwin. The session was designed as a collective intelligence exercise in a “marketplace” format, aiming to identify the barriers to circularity and brainstorm practical ways to overcome them.
Circularity: A Shared Vision, Still a Distant Reality
Today, there is broad agreement: circularity is no longer optional — it is the only way forward. It’s a smarter, more resilient, and lower-carbon way to manage our finite natural resources. It supports local jobs, strengthens supply chains, and reduces dependency on virgin materials.
And yet… full circularity remains far from reality. In 2023, the EU’s Circular Material Use Rate stood at just 12% (22% in Belgium), and around 14% for non-metallic minerals. In Belgium, this second rate was higher — about 30% — but significant gaps remain.
There’s still a “(recycled) glass ceiling” limiting large-scale adoption. Changing mindsets, updating regulations, rethinking business models — these are not minor tweaks. They require collaboration, innovation, and leadership.
Turning Ideas into Action
That was the ambition of this workshop: to transform insights into action. Through open dialogue and cross-sector exchanges, participants co-created a list of concrete actions and solutions that will now feed into the next phase of work within the Circular Wallonia / Greenwin ecosystem.
At HOP3, we are proud to contribute to this momentum toward industrial decarbonization and sustainable construction. A warm thank-you to all participants for their engagement, openness, and energy!
