Economic indicators of the environmental sector

1,835 enterprises were working in the environmental sector in 2023

Environment
1,835 enterprises were working in the environmental sector in 2023

In 2023, the number of enterprises working in the environmental sector[1] increased by 2.5% to 1,835 enterprises. This growth was also reflected in the number of employees, which rose by 10.7% to a total of 20,927. This is what emerged from the latest figures on the environmental sector published by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, based on the Structural Business Survey.

In 2023, the turnover of enterprises in the environmental sector reached €9.8 billion, a decrease of 3.0% compared to the previous year, while value added amounted to €2.8 billion (+2.0%). 

Purchases of goods and services by the sector amounted to €7.1 billion (-5.4%) and gross investments in tangible goods to €1.1 billion (-11.4%).


[1] The environmental sector consists of specialised enterprises whose main activity is the production of environmental protection services, whether they belong to private or public producers and whether they operate on or off market. EPEA definition (Eurostat) of “Specialised producers”.

Table
Content

Economic indicators of the environmental sector (2018-2023)

Total environmental sector 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Enterprises subject to VAT Number 1,556 1,593 1,631 1,703 1,791 1,835
Births of enterprises Number 110 129 130 143 162 133
Deletions of enterprises Number 72 77 70 93 94 89
Turnover million EUR 6,052 6,246 6,753 8,321 10,115 9,807
Total of the purchases of goods and services million EUR 4,004 4,247 4,502 5,772 7,526 7,123
Value added million EUR 2,101 2,012 2,225 2,606 2,707 2,761
Gross investment in tangible goods million EUR 935 834 891 1,096 1,233 1,092
Number of persons employed Number 17,709 18,325 18,079 18,004 18,905 20,927
The environmental sector consists mainly of specialised enterprises whose main activity is the production of environmental protection services, whether they belong to private or public producers and whether they operate on or off market. EPEA definition (Eurostat) of “Specialised producers” Note: Nace codes used (37 + 38 + 39)
DBRIS change in the VAT universes from 2019 onwards
Weighted figures
Downloads

Doel en korte beschrijving

De milieusector bestaat hoofdzakelijk uit gespecialiseerde ondernemingen die als hoofdactiviteit de productie van diensten voor de bescherming van het milieu hebben, ongeacht of ze behoren tot privé- of openbare producenten en of ze marktactiviteiten of activiteiten buiten de markt uitvoeren. Definitie EPEA (Eurostat) van "Specialised producers".

Populatie

NACE rev 1 : 2003-2007 (Nace= 14.50+23.30+24.15+37+51.57+90) Sinds 2008, de volgende Nace Rev. 2 worden gebruikt 37 + 38 + 39 + 46.77

Frequentie

Jaarlijks.

Definities

Economische activiteit (NACE-BEL) : Officiële nomenclatuur met een 'X' op het einde van het nummer daar de informatie slechts 4 posities is.

Milieusector (eco-ondernemingen) : Omzetcijfer, totale aankopen van goederen en diensten, bruto-investeringen in gemeenschappelijke goederen en aantal werkzame personen.

Metadata

Leefmilieu en economie.pdf