On the 1st of September, the ENSIE team travelled to Liège, in Belgium for a study visit to Groupe Terre, offering an opportunity to discover first-hand a social economy model that combines work integration, environmental sustainability and democratic participation.
Groupe Terre brings together 16 social economy enterprises and employs more than 450 workers. The group develops economic activities serving the general interest while creating stable employment opportunities, particularly for people experiencing difficulties accessing the labour market.
During the visit, the ENSIE team explored the diversity of Groupe Terre’s activities. These range from the collection, sorting and reuse of textiles to second-hand retail, waste collection, paper and cardboard recovery, the reuse of construction materials and furniture, sustainable food production and the production of insulation materials from recycled resources.
The visit demonstrated in very concrete terms how social and environmental objectives can reinforce each other. By developing activities rooted in reuse, recycling and the circular economy, Groupe Terre responds to environmental challenges while creating employment and work integration opportunities.
Another key feature of its model is participatory governance. Workers are encouraged to contribute to the strategic and operational decisions of their enterprises, reflecting Groupe Terre’s commitment to democratic and participatory forms of entrepreneurship.
For ENSIE, the visit provided valuable insights into how WISEs can contribute simultaneously to social inclusion, quality employment, the circular economy and the green transition. It also offered an important opportunity to exchange directly with practitioners about the realities, opportunities and challenges facing social economy enterprises on the ground.
ENSIE warmly thanks François Malaise, Director of Groupe Terre, and the entire team for their warm welcome, presentations and valuable exchanges.
We also sincerely thank ENSIE’s Belgian member in Wallonia, the Réseau d’Entreprises Sociales (RES), and its coordinator Etienne Dewandeler, for facilitating the organisation of the study visit and bringing our networks closer together.
Want to learn more about this inspiring social economy model? Discover Groupe Terre and its activities.