Internal community puts Infrabel on track for circular vision and strategy

Infrabel wanted to explore its role in the circular economy. To this end, they started an internal community of committed employees with the task of developing a vision, strategy and action plan. Möbius was responsible for the substantive guidance at the start of this 'HUB circular economy'.

Logo Infrabel
Infrabel


Strategic challenge

Are you looking for the catalyst to realise your organisation's circular ambitions? An internal coalition of enthusiastic colleagues is the answer!

Infrabel was convinced that the commitment of such a community is essential to strengthen its ambition for a circular economy. This is embodied in the global CSR strategy that encompasses the priority sustainable themes and the link to the Sustainable Development Goals. The organisation's waste and materials management is one of them. Infrabel wants to explore what role it can play in the materials transition and wants to embed this role in a comprehensive vision, strategy and action plan for a circular economy within the organisation. This assignment was tailor-made for the 'HUB circular economy': a multidisciplinary task force of some 20 committed employees in the organisation. These pioneers meet regularly to collect their ideas and the input they obtain from colleagues. They make these concrete, connect them with each other, coordinate with colleagues in other functions and experts in the organisation, and thus develop a supported vision with which to drive the circular transformation. 

At Infrabel, we believe very strongly in a circular society and want to develop a circular approach for our railway materials. Möbius challenged us to set long-term goals and turn them into concrete projects. Our HUB circular economy was very inspiring and gave us concrete ideas to get started with our internal circular community.

Pascal Heylen Manager Environment Infrabel

Approach

Möbius was responsible for the substantive guidance in the start-up of this 'HUB circular economy'. Here we combined our extensive expertise in drawing up circular visions for local authorities, government and industrial organisations with our experience in designing an exciting and inspiring circular economy project. As content expert, coach and sounding board, we supported Infrabel's managers step by step in organising their first workshops.

  • Concretely, we worked towards a clear business case: the motivation and motives of an organisation such as Infrabel to invest in circular economy (priority product groups, stakeholders to be involved ...).
  • We guided the triggers in cocreatively defining a vision and strategy towards circular economy (among others thanks to an information session and workshop with the Circular HUB) and translated this into concrete objectives.
  • To operationalise the vision into actions and tangible (pilot) projects, Möbius acted as a sounding board. We also offered support to the internal community so that they could ensure the sustainable anchoring of the process.
  • Finally, we also participated in the sessions as experts (including as keynote speaker on the what and why of a circular economy, applied to Infrabel's specific context and materials) and as facilitator.

Results

  • A successful kick-off with the internal circular community via an information session and workshop.
  • A first version of the vision including an ambition statement and objectives based on input from the 'HUB circular economy'.
  • A clear overview of the next steps, formulated for a number of circular working groups with clearly defined assignments.