{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6836bbe0e1abc4be6b5990ae/691c8972b958098159c50716?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"#70 - CCB on the Road: Circular Valley Forum 2025","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6836bbe0e1abc4be6b5990ae/1763455454427-512f51aa-30a8-49ac-9975-831cfe7dcf88.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>What does it take to turn circularity from vision into action? In this special episode of <em>The Circular Coffee Break</em>, recorded live at the <strong>Circular Valley Forum 2025</strong> in Wuppertal, Germany, we explore how leaders across industry, science, startups, and public institutions are driving the circular economy forward. From policy and research to business models and societal engagement, these conversations reveal that circularity is no longer an abstract ambition, it’s a fast-growing field of industrial modernization, entrepreneurial innovation, and systemic change.</p><p><br></p><p>Host Michael Hanf sits down with a diverse group of leaders to uncover the challenges, opportunities, and collaborations shaping the future of circularity. In this episode, you’ll hear from:</p><ul><li><strong>Tim Janßen </strong>(<strong><em>Cradle to Cradle NGO</em></strong>) on the importance of holistic circularity and the role of platforms in keeping the conversation alive.</li><li><strong>Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner</strong> (<strong><em>Fraunhofer UMSICHT</em></strong>) on the intersection of technology, business models, and societal engagement in circular innovation.</li><li><strong>Rolf Bayersdörfer </strong>(<strong><em>Henkel Consumer Brands</em></strong>) on how circularity is reshaping product development and collaboration in fast-moving consumer goods.</li><li><strong>Adrian Blum</strong> (<strong><em>Evonik</em></strong>) on maintaining momentum for circularity in a global environment with competing priorities.</li><li><strong>Björn Hoffmann</strong> (<strong><em>BASF</em></strong>) on the differences in scaling circular solutions between regions like Europe, the US, and Asia.</li><li><strong>Inge Neven</strong> (<strong><em>VITO</em></strong>) on turning scientific insight into practical circular action through demonstration and collaboration.</li><li><strong>Steffen Knodt</strong> (<strong><em>German Aerospace Centre / UN Ocean Decade</em></strong>) on the global connections between circularity, oceans, and value chains.</li><li><strong>Marc Diefenbach</strong> (<strong><em>rhinopaq</em></strong>) on replacing single-use packaging with reusable systems for B2B logistics.</li><li><strong>Felix May</strong> (<strong><em>recarbished</em></strong>) on securing material recovery rights for end-of-life vehicles to close the loop in mobility.</li><li><strong>Peter Johnson</strong> (<strong><em>LightEd</em></strong>) on turning plastic and electronic waste into solar-powered solutions for off-grid communities.</li><li><strong>Carsten Cramer</strong> (<strong><em>Borussia Dortmund</em></strong>) on how football can amplify circularity and sustainability to millions of fans.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Why listen?</strong></p><ul><li>Discover how circularity is shifting from vision to constraint and becoming a strategic imperative for competitiveness and resilience.</li><li>Learn about the systemic challenges of circularity and why collaboration across unlikely partners is essential.</li><li>Explore how innovation requires demonstration at scale to build trust and mobilize investment.</li><li>Understand the role of new business models, such as product-service systems, in driving circular consumption and production.</li><li>Gain insights into the cultural and societal dimensions of circularity, from football to global value chains.</li><li>Hear how startups and industry leaders are turning circular research into real-world action and impact.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Whether you are a business leader, a policymaker, a researcher, or simply curious about the future of circularity, this episode offers a diverse and inspiring look at how circularity is being brought to life through collaboration, innovation, and persistence.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>circular economy, Circular Valley Forum 2025, circularity, collaboration, innovation, systemic change, Cradle to Cradle, Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Henkel, Evonik, BASF, VITO, German Aerospace Centre, UN Ocean Decade, rhinopaq, recarbished, LightEd, Borussia Dortmund, circular innovation, business models, societal engagement, demonstration, circular research</p>","author_name":"Michael Hanf"}