Consumers fear abuse of price hikes and want government to intervene
Merelbeke, 12-5-2026 - Belgian consumers place some of the responsibility for resource scarcity on companies, but trust is fragile. Research by iVOX commissioned by Milgro shows that almost two in three Belgians (65%) believe that companies should play a role in tackling raw material scarcity, while at the same time more than half (55%) fear that companies will use scarcity to raise prices, even when this cannot be fully justified.
While a majority recognize that companies have a role to play, the feeling prevails that economic interests prevail. That tension translates into a clear expectation toward government. For example, 76 percent of Belgians believe the government should crack down harder on companies when using scarce resources, and 77 percent support the introduction of maximum prices when resources become scarce.
The call for action is broad and outspoken. For many Belgians, the government should not only ensure fairer prices, but also require companies to use raw materials more sustainably. For example, 80 percent think a minimum percentage of recycled materials should be mandatory. In extreme situations, 65 percent even think that production or imports of certain goods may be restricted to better manage scarcity.
Behind that distrust is a broader concern about the future. For example, 61 percent of consumers fear that products will become unaffordable and half (50%) expect real shortages. Nearly three-quarters (72%) also think resource scarcity will become the new inflation, while 77 percent worry about dependence on other countries for raw materials.
"Consumers understand that companies are under pressure, but expect this to be handled fairly and transparently," says Pascale Hendrickx, Managing Director at Milgro Belgium. "Without clear agreements and visibility into how prices are arrived at, mistrust grows. That also explains why so many Belgians demand a more active role from the government."
About the survey
The independent research firm iVOX surveyed 500 Belgian consumers on behalf of Milgro. The online survey was conducted between March 11 and 16, 2026 and is representative on language, gender, age and education.
About Milgro
Milgro is an independent all-in service provider for waste management in the business market. The company has 110+ employees and directs improvements in the process surrounding the transfer of deployed natural capital, or "used resources," to a new user or processor. In doing so, it focuses on reducing ecological impact of waste and on transparency about what happens to the waste. Milgro wants the world to be waste-free by 2040. Together with our clients and partners, we ensure that raw materials no longer become waste. We do this by making connections between disposers of used raw materials and the re-users (receivers). Together we work towards a circular economy in which we use raw materials again and again and preferably indefinitely. In 2024, Milgro avoided a net climate impact of 11 kton CO2 emissions.
