S3: Regional circular economy
A local response to geopolitical and climate challenges

Action plan

Detailed actions

1. Strengthening regional resilience

• Objective: Strengthening the resilience of local industry by limiting dependence on imports.
• Action: Making use of the schemes that help secure supply chains and energy independence
• Concrete examples: REPowerEU, a European initiative launched in May 2022 to end dependence on Russian fuels and diversify energy supplies. The "Territoires d'industrie" programme: launched by the French directorate-general for enterprise in 2018 (strengthened in 2023), this programme supports more than 180 areas - including several in the Grand Est - with several thousand actions, funding streams and regional plans to relocate production and secure critical value chains. Reindustrialisation support (ARI): a national scheme aimed at SMEs and mid-caps to relocate or strengthen local industrial capacity, in exchange for commitments to maintain jobs for 3 to 5 years. ERDF Grand Est (2021-2027). With a budget of €1.14bn, the region co-funds projects in energy efficiency, industrial relocation, regional innovation and economic resilience.

2. Strengthening the regional economy through pooling

• Objective: Strengthening the regional economy by pooling and diversifying resources and energy.
• Action: Developing a local network by creating a network of varied players: public institutions, industry and companies. This network will make it possible to align industrial and energy policies with the specific features of the area, whether at local (metropolitan) or regional (Grand Est) scale.
• Concrete example: Developing regional energy projects, inspired by regional food projects, which aim both to bring producers, processors, distributors, local authorities and consumers closer together, to develop agriculture in the area and to strengthen the quality of food.

3. Developing skills at local level

• Objective: Stimulating local employment through the circular economy.
• Action: Strengthening collaboration between industry and educational establishments (secondary schools, sixth-form colleges, universities, etc.) in order to identify skills gaps. Highlighting occupations suited to regional needs through forums or dedicated events. Manufacturers drawing up "specifications" to identify their skills and occupational needs.
• Concrete example: Drawing inspiration from the local school-business committee network, which connects companies with schools in order to raise young people's awareness of local occupations.

4. Funding collective regional projects

• Objective: Adapting funding to the needs of regional projects.
• Action: Rather than each company running a project alone, the idea is to develop collective projects in which different players can join forces. Hubs can play a key role in identifying and bringing together these projects.
• Concrete example: Low-carbon industrial zones could serve as a model, with companies setting up in zones benefiting from specific funding. Funding should be decided at regional level (for example through the Regional Council), according to criteria such as the creation of local jobs, the use of local resources and partnerships between players in the area.

5. Developing short supply loops

• Objective: Reducing dependence on imports and strengthening the resilience of territories.
• Action: Identifying the resources (raw materials, semi-finished goods, logistics services) available within a radius of 200 km or less, in order to reduce dependence on long, imported chains.
• Concrete example: Carrying out a local supply assessment (through the chamber of commerce, EDIH, Bpifrance). Using platforms such as Sourcing Local (BPI) to identify nearby industrial suppliers. Renegotiating or trialling pilot contracts with regional partners for certain purchasing categories.

6. Supporting citizens towards a regional circular economy

• Objective: Supporting citizens in this transition towards a regional circular economy.
• Action: Changing consumption practices and giving citizens the knowledge and tools needed to act independently (empowerment).
• Concrete example: Developing a local platform to promote the durability of products from the regional circular economy, inspired by ADEME's current platform on the "long life of objects". Introducing QR codes on products to provide information on their composition and on how to recycle them at end of life. This QR code would be populated by companies, notably for material compositions, while institutions such as ADEME would provide the schemes and procedures for end-of-life recycling.

7. Pooling the recycling and reuse of industrial waste

• Objective: Pooling the recycling and reuse of industrial waste across the area
• Action: Setting up sharing platforms for the recycling and reuse of industrial waste (storage) across the area.
• Concrete example: Installing on-site collection or take-back points (e.g. pallets, packaging, equipment). Identifying nearby recovery or regeneration players (e.g. plastics recycling, industrial composting, refurbishment).  Committing to industrial symbiosis projects through local authorities or bodies such as ADEME or the chamber of commerce.

8. Fostering cross-border partnerships

• Objective: Collaborating with neighbouring regions for a coherent circular economy.
• Action: Launching joint initiatives with Germany, Switzerland and Belgium in order to harmonise practices.
• Concrete example: Drawing on existing cross-border schemes - INTERREG, Eurodistricts, the cross-border operational mission - in order to co-construct platforms for managing and valorising circular flows.

9. Encouraging sustainable craft trades

• Objective: Promoting local craftspeople using eco-responsible materials.
• Action: Introducing subsidies for craftspeople who develop sustainable products.
• Concrete example: Showcasing craftspeople with environmentally responsible practices (a craftspeople's ecolabel with the chamber of trades). Financial support through schemes such as Start-RSE, which provides financial support to companies buying eco-designed furniture, for example.

10. Pooling the recycling and reuse of water

• Objective: Optimising water consumption across the area
• Action: Developing support programmes for pooling the recycling and reuse of water in industrial facilities.
• Concrete example: Setting up a regional "Water & Sustainable Industry" club, brought together by ADEME, the water agency, the chamber of commerce and the regional environment directorate. Developing collective mini treatment plants (ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis) co-funded by the ERDF or France 2030. Water assessments & industrial efficiency audits. Drawing on the Region's "frugal water" assessments in order to reduce abstraction & discharge and to incorporate rainwater or wastewater recovery.

Summary table