ONTketen

Within the ONTketen project, clean-tech start-up Circular Matters, design platform Livable and social economy company Pro Natura are joining forces to tackle social problems. As a green start-up, Circular Matters developed an alternative to hard plastics and wood-based boards: a biopolymer completely free of fossil and mined resources. Instead of using traditional petroleum, their technology is based on bio-based residual flows from Flemish soil. It is circular, signifies a lot less CO2 emissions and leaves no harmful substances in products and our environment. To stimulate the development of new products with this material, Circular Matters called in the help of Livable Platform, led by Sep Verboom. Together, they set up a 'matchmaking' process in which three pioneering production companies (NIKO, Van Hoecke and ETAP) enter into a partnership with three talented design studios (Esther Van Schuylenbergh, Brent Neve & Giel Dedeurwaerder and Studio Atelier PART). Their goal? To replace as many non-renewable materials as possible with the regenerable alternative from Circular Matters. This project is widely recognised for the close collaboration between companies and designers from across the value chain and across sectors. From small start-up to large family business, from social to mainstream employment: by innovating together, ONTketen makes sure that their circular ambitions are realised.