Our sustainability approach is guided by the principles of the R-ladder: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, Rethink, Refuse and Relove. These are not abstract concepts but values applied in practice. Our choices reflect a commitment to local partnerships, reusing materials, creating social employment, and circular practices.
In previous editions, for example, we worked with social organisations such as Halte R and with schools offering special education programmes. Surplus printed materials were turned into notebooks, flags became handbags, and installation materials were given a second life in workshops, art academies, or city services. Even artworks were recycled or symbolically returned to their origins, such as the salt from an installation, which was returned to the sea by our team.
For us, ecological sustainability begins with the very first choices, from suppliers to design. We encourage our partners to co-create circular solutions and turn sustainability into a shared commitment. At Triennial Kortrijk, we believe that sustainable choices are not a limitation but an opportunity: a space for creativity, connection, and social impact. Every recycled object, every repurposed installation, and every human story contributes to a cultural practice that truly cares for the future.
