Vert d’Iris & Noir d’Iris

A producer like no other…

At The Barn Bio Market, we believe in a local and sustainable economy. That’s why we’re proud to introduce a unique partner: Vert d’Iris. Their mission? To turn our waste into resources!

Unlike our other suppliers, Vert d’Iris doesn’t supply us with fruit or vegetables… but they give a new lease of life to produce that can no longer be sold. Every week, they collect our unsold produce that is too damaged to be sold and transform it into ‘black gold’: a locally sourced, rich and nourishing compost for Brussels’ soil.

Who are they?

Vert d’Iris is a Brussels-based cooperative dedicated to sustainable urban agriculture. For several years now, the cooperative has been turning local organic waste into high-quality compost, thereby enriching its agroforestry vegetable gardens in Anderlecht. Their mission: to close the natural cycle by giving back to the earth the fertility it has provided us with.

Their flagship project: Noir d’Iris

Pour répondre à l’absence de filière locale de compostage, Vert d’Iris a lancé Noir d’Iris, une coopérative spécialisée dans la collecte et la valorisation des biodéchets bruxellois. 

Their objectives

• To achieve a collection of 10 tonnes of organic waste per week (over 1,000 tonnes per year), starting from the current level of 2 tonnes per week.
• Produce 10 tonnes of compost per month (currently 1 tonne per month).
• Distribute this locally sourced compost to market gardeners and local stakeholders.

Every week, Vert d’Iris collects unsold food from our markets (such as damaged fruit and vegetables) and turns it into compost. A zero-waste solution that

• Enriches local soils, promoting healthy and biodiverse crops.
• Supports urban farming and local food supply chains.
• Is a sustainable alternative to incineration or the long-distance transport of bio-waste

Their impact

• 10 times more humus in their vegetable gardens within a few years (23% humus measured in 2025).
• Over 1,000 tonnes of waste recycled locally by 2028 (target).
• Less reliance on imported substrates, which are often of uncertain quality for some suppliers.
• A significant reduction in transport and the carbon footprint of the compost.

Did you know? At The Barn, nothing goes to waste! Fruit and vegetables that are too damaged to be sold but still edible are collected by local charities and redistributed to those in need. Once this charitable distribution has taken place, Vert d’Iris steps in to turn the remaining unsold produce into compost. An initiative designed to prevent any food waste!