Once considered the capital of services, Brussels hides an urban industry in constant reinvention beneath its cobbles. From its glorious past to its greener and more connected future, the Brussels industry is experiencing a remarkable revival.

In Brussels, urban industry has not yet spoken its final word. Although the capital has long been dominated by services, its industrial past is far from forgotten. In fact, it is currently undergoing a transformation, rediscovering a sector capable of adapting to contemporary challenges. This reindustrialisation is not a step backwards, but it now responds to ecological challenges while supporting local employment and the economy. It is a delicate evolution, balancing the demands of the modern city, its growing density and environmental imperatives. While the path is full of obstacles, initiatives such as the creation of a Vivaqua shell factory demonstrate that a sustainable industrial future in Brussels is indeed possible.

An industrial city at the heart of history

Since the Middle Ages, Brussels has always been a centre for textile production, particularly wool. Over time, Brussels' industry has diversified, incorporating sectors such as metallurgy, chemicals and agri-food. However, it was in the 20th century that the capital reached its industrial peak, with sectors such as clothing, automotive and chemicals making it the country's leading industrial city. In 1970, Brussels was still ahead of the pack, but some 50 years later, the sector's share of the region's economy has declined significantly.

Like many large European cities, Brussels has had to cope with gradual deindustrialisation since the late 1960s. Global economic changes, relocations and technological developments have led to a decline in industrial space. According to perspective.brussels, between 1997 and 2021, the area dedicated to industrial premises in Brussels decreased by 24%, from 5,722,500 m² to 4,330,000 m². This reduction is largely due to the conversion of these spaces into housing and public facilities.

Towards the reindustrialisation of Brussels

Despite this reduction, Brussels maintains a notable industrial presence. Companies such as Vivaqua illustrate this dynamic. In 2020, the Belgian water production and wastewater management company opened a factory in Anderlecht dedicated to producing polyester shells reinforced with sand and glass fibres. These are used to renovate Brussels’ sewers, extending their lifespan by 70 years without major replacement works.

Before the factory was built, the company was dependent on foreign suppliers, which resulted in high costs and uncertain delivery times. Local production has reduced transport-related CO₂ emissions by 60% and offers the potential for a further 90% reduction by sourcing raw materials from Belgian suppliers. Laurence Bovy, General Manager of Vivaqua, explains: ‘We have put an end to a kind of ecological absurdity because the shells we used to buy abroad weighed several tonnes. To bring them here, they had to be transported by boat and then by truck to the centre of Brussels. In ecological terms, this represented many tonnes of CO₂. Now, however, we produce them close to the construction sites.’

Employment: slowly but surely

Vivaqua's relocation of sewer shell production has not only reduced its ecological footprint, it has also had a direct impact on local employment. "We wanted to recreate industrial jobs in Brussels, and above all rebuild know-how, because there are no schools in Belgium that train workers to produce shells. Urban industry creates blue-collar jobs, which is rare in a capital city," observes Laurence Bovy. The Anderlecht factory has thus generated 25 direct jobs. This is a modest figure, but highly symbolic in a city where industry has declined over the decades.

According to Citydev.brussels, the public body in charge of urban development in the Brussels-Capital Region, industrial employment has fallen by 60% since 1995, reaching 17,000 jobs in 2023, or only 2.3% of regional employment. Nevertheless, some sectors are showing remarkable resilience. Agri-food and machinery repair, for example, remain stable. According to Actiris, despite gradual deindustrialisation, certain industrial sectors continue to play an important role in the local economy. For example, the hospitality industry is the second largest employer of labourers in Brussels, accounting for around 16% of such employment.

How to (re)find a place in the city?

Even though urban industry is developing more than before, significant obstacles remain to truly revitalise this sector in Brussels. The CEO of Vivaqua points out that obtaining permits is a long and complex process, involving many players in the Region. In the case of the construction of a shell production plant, this led to additional costs, particularly for the addition of a double-skin facade to the plant and the installation of a green roof, imposed by the authorities to minimise the visual and environmental impact of the project.

For example, the factory had to install filters to reduce odours associated with the use of styrene, a chemical used in the manufacture of shells. Although these measures were necessary to ease neighbours' concerns, they prolonged the process and increased costs, making industrial development in urban areas particularly complex.

Lastly, ‘Industrial land is scarce in Brussels,’ notes Laurence Bovy. The city's growing density and the need to reconcile different urban functions, such as housing, mobility and industry, make industrial development in the capital difficult, but necessary to ensure the city's economic diversity.

There is, of course, the closure of Audi Brussels. The factory site, covering 54 hectares in Forest, leaves a void in the local economy. However, this space could be reused for sustainable industrial projects, offering Brussels the opportunity to reclaim part of its industrial past.

Vivaqua: urban industry in the heart of Anderlecht

Beci visited Vivaqua to find out more about its plant in Anderlecht. Built in 2020, it manufactures shells to extend the life of Brussels sewers, without having to replace them. A first in Belgium.

Since 2015, Vivaqua has been looking for a solution to modernise the capital's sewerage network. Rather than demolishing and replacing the pipes, the company chose to produce these shells in-house, thereby reducing costs and its carbon footprint. Each shell, weighing between 250 and 300 kilograms, is made from sand, fibreglass and resin, and then undergoes rigorous quality control.

With around 30 employees, the factory produces up to nine shells per day, contributing to the rehabilitation of the 223 kilometres of sewers remaining to be modernised. To date, more than 200 kilometres have already been restored. ‘We made the decision to manufacture these expensive materials ourselves,’ explains Olivier Broers, Director of Research, Logistics and Laboratory. The workers were trained on site: ‘We had to learn everything and build up new expertise in a year and a half,’ the laboratory director recalls.  

For Beci, this visit illustrates the importance of supporting companies that innovate in the management of public services. It was during a meeting organised by Beci that Vivaqua was able to strengthen its collaboration with its partners. Proof, if any were needed, that dialogue between economic and institutional players paves the way for sustainable solutions for Brussels.

Read the full article: Vivaqua: urban industry in the heart of Anderlecht