Cleantech, short for ´clean technology´, is an important growth sector because it can offer an answer to important social challenges such as climate change and shortages of raw materials. It deals with products, processes and services that, thanks to the use of innovative technology, create both an economic and a social added value through the efficient use of - as far as possible renewable - energy sources and materials.
Closing cycles is the number one task. An important element of this is the transformation of waste into new raw materials or energy. The valorisation of waste and by-product flows is oriented towards adapting or organising (industrial) processes so that waste from a given process is turned into raw material either for its own process once again or for a different process. This produces a significant cost advantage, reduces dependency on external economies and offers important environmental benefits.
Waste management
Waste management thus forms an important European and Flemish focus of attention. Under the Flemish Materials Decree, waste is no longer regarded as an end point (this is only still allowed under very strict conditions) but rather a secondary raw material or source of energy. Flanders is thus a trendsetter in materials management and an absolute leader in recycling. Flanders is number one in Europe, with 65% recycling of household waste.
The Blue Gate Antwerp and BlueChem projects are going all in on cleantech and waste management in Antwerp.
Blue Gate Antwerp
Blue Gate Antwerp is a brownfield of 103 hectares in the southwest of Antwerp that is being redeveloped into a high-quality waterfront and eco-effective business area.
Blue Gate Antwerp offers space to innovative production companies, waterway-linked logistics companies and research and development, and is fully committed to the circular economy.
Blue Gate Antwerp wants to be CO2-neutral. The prevention or recycling of waste, the maximum and integral closing of material cycles, the use of renewable energy, the focus on green products… are all essential characteristics of the site.
BlueChem
BlueChem is being realised at Blue Gate Antwerp.
BlueChem is an incubator/accelerator for sustainable chemistry. All sustainable chemical entrepreneurs - starters, growth companies and the entrepreneurs within the R&D departments of large companies, universities, knowledge institutions and university colleges - are accelerated and strengthened here. They can count on a financial and go-to-market service.
An important focus of BlueChem is the acceleration and strengthening of chemical entrepreneurs who are active in the valorisation of waste and by-product flows, including biomass, energy and water. In this context, the valorisation of bio-aromatics (plastics) and C1-, C2- and C5-chains (converting carbon into material or energy) are especially promising.