Once again present at MIPIM, the major international real estate fair in Cannes, Wallonia has chosen to highlight the theme: “Circular Economy in Real Estate.” This positioning confirms the region’s commitment to sustainable development and positions Wallonia as a leader in this forward-looking movement.
For Renaud Moens, CEO of IGRETEC, circularity is now an integral part of every project: “Generally speaking, we are involved in many stimulus plans. And among the various criteria, circularity, sustainability and the reuse of materials are often imposed by the various subsidizing authorities. But we didn't wait for this to be imposed on us before doing so. In the various projects we're involved in, it's one of our primary concerns”.
He specifically mentions the A6K-E6K project in Charleroi, powered by heat pumps with an aquathermy system for heating or cooling.
For certain proects IGRETEC has decided to call on Rotor to carry out re-use audits. "For the Trésignies project, we called in a specialist company (…) We realized that it was very useful to have the expertise of a company whose core business it is.” adds Nelly Coquereau, Territorial Development Department Manager.
This approach also takes into account the future deconstruction of buildings, in order to evaluate their carbon impact over their entire life cycle.
On IDEA’s side, the territorial development agency for the 27 municipalities of the Cœur du Hainaut, sustainability is embodied in the Feluy M2M project. This 62-hectare industrial site, formerly operated by BASF, is currently undergoing extensive decontamination before hosting a mini-zoning, but one that will leave room for biodiversity.
According to Geneviève Finet, Business Director at IDEA, this commitment is part of a clear political vision: achieving zero net artificialization by 2050. “We can't continue to erode the agricultural land that allows the planet to breathe. The key to circularity is to build on former wastelands whenever possible. And every player who comes to develop their business must have as little environmental impact as possible.” adds Geneviève Finet.
Through these initiatives, Wallonia is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, demonstrating that an ambitious regional policy can inspire sustainable transition on a global scale.
Source: Isabelle Anneet (AWEX), Wallonia.be
