The Circular Coffee Break

In this special Circular Coffee Break episode recorded live at Slush 2025 in Helsinki, host Michael Hanf explores how circular innovation is moving from vision to implementation across Europe. While circularity was not a headline theme this year, it was noticeably more present, reflected in the founders shaping new solutions in energy storage, materials, electronics, chemistry, agriculture, and even space.Across seven conversations, listeners hear directly from the innovators building practical, scalable circular models. From second-life batteries and plastic-free hemp materials to circular smartphones, regenerative filters made from human hair, bio-based polyols, recyclable paper coatings, and responsible satellite end-of-life systems, each founder shares how circularity is becoming an operational advantage, not an afterthought.If you want a concise, real-world snapshot of where circular innovation stands today, this episode offers a grounded look at the ideas gaining momentum and reshaping industries.

Circularity is accelerating, and the 2025 Circular Valley Forum in Wuppertal offered a vivid snapshot of how fast the transition is unfolding. The event brought together leaders from industry, science, public institutions, startups and civil society. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, ideas and a shared determination to turn circular concepts into real action.In this special episode of the Circular Coffee Break Podcast, we bring together conversations from across the Forum to explore what circularity looks like in practice today. Each voice offers a different window into the transition, and together they reveal how interconnected and dynamic this field has become.We begin with Tim Janßen of the Cradle to Cradle NGO, who reflects on how circularity has evolved over the past decade and why the social and ecological foundations of the movement matter more than ever.From there we turn to science and applied research with Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner of Fraunhofer UMSICHT, who discusses how breakthrough technologies move from lab to real-world implementation.The industry perspective comes from Rolf Bayersdörfer of Henkel Consumer Brands, Adrian Blum of Evonik, and Björn Hoffmann of BASF. They explore how large companies navigate complex supply chains, develop circular raw materials, scale circular business models and build partnerships that make change possible.We then move into systems thinking with Inge Neven, CEO of VITO, who explains how real scale demonstrators and mini factories help bridge the gap between research and industry.Steffen Knodt, representing the German Aerospace Centre and the UN Ocean Decade, expands the conversation to ocean health and global material flows, showing how circularity and planetary boundaries are closely linked.Several startup founders share how circularity is becoming an engine of innovation. Marc Diefenbach of rhinopaq introduces reusable solutions for B2B packaging. Felix May of recarbished explains how new ownership models can secure valuable materials at the end of vehicle lifecycles. Peter Johnson of LightEd offers a powerful story about turning waste into solar solutions for off-grid communities in Nigeria and Rwanda, highlighting the social dimension of circularity.We close with a cultural perspective from Carsten Cramer of Borussia Dortmund, who reflects on how football can make sustainability and circularity accessible to millions of fans.Across all conversations, a few themes stand out. Circularity is no longer a concept. It is becoming a strategic necessity across industries. Progress depends on collaboration across borders and systems. Innovation must be demonstrated at scale, not only discussed in theory. And culture, storytelling and public engagement are essential for driving societal adoption.This episode offers a panoramic view of circularity at a moment of real momentum. It highlights the people, ideas and partnerships pushing the movement forward and invites listeners to reflect on what it will take to accelerate the transition even further.Listen in and join the conversation.

In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, host Michael Hanf sits down with Allison Jordan, Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) and Vice President of Environmental Affairs at the Wine Institute.For more than two decades, Allison has helped turn California into a global model for sustainable winegrowing. Today, over 2,600 vineyards and wineries, representing more than 90 percent of the state’s wine production, are certified sustainable. But behind those numbers lies a story about collaboration, resilience, and rethinking how a centuries-old industry can thrive in a changing world.Together, Michael and Allison explore what it takes to make sustainability work from grapes to glass, and why wine is a powerful lens for understanding the balance between environmental, social, and economic success.Tune in to learn about:How the California wine industry built one of the world’s leading sustainability programsThe challenges and trade-offs wineries face in balancing profit, people, and planetHow climate change is transforming vineyards and shaping new farming practicesThe growing importance of global standards and certification in wine exportsWhy “regenerative” isn’t a trend but an evolution of sustainable practicesHow digital tools and transparency are changing how wineries communicate with consumersFrom droughts and wildfires to shifting consumer expectations, California’s wine industry is confronting the realities of climate change head-on. The CSWA’s Climate Action Toolkit now helps vineyards measure and reduce emissions, adapt to extreme weather, and find win-win solutions that protect both business and biodiversity.Allison also shares insights from her experience as a restaurant owner, offering a practical perspective on sustainability from the other side of the wine glass. Her message is clear: whether you are a grower, a producer, or a consumer, sustainability is a shared journey that depends on collaboration, innovation, and long-term thinking.As she puts it, “Sustainability in wine is about much more than protecting the environment. It’s about producing high-quality wine, enriching the lives of employees and neighbors, and safeguarding family farms and vibrant businesses for generations to come.”Join the conversation to discover how California is cultivating the future of sustainable wine and what the rest of the world can learn from its success.

Recorded live at the European Biogas Conference during European Biomethane Week 2025, this special episode of The Circular Coffee Break explores how biogas and biomethane are driving Europe’s transition to a truly circular economy.Biomethane connects energy, waste management, and nutrient recovery — turning residues into clean energy and valuable resources. In this episode, policymakers, researchers, financiers, and innovators share how Europe can scale biomethane to strengthen competitiveness, resilience, and climate neutrality.Featuring insights from:Daniel Mes (European Commission) on how biomethane fits into Europe’s competitiveness and clean industrial strategy.Mats Eklund (Linköping University) on the science of circular systems and industrial symbiosis.Oriol Bellot Miana (European Investment Bank) on the role of finance as an enabler of circular infrastructure.Simon Ford (Celtic Bioenergy) on expanding the feedstock base with advanced pre-treatment technologies.Mia Shaw (RAFT Energy / Real Zero) on maximizing efficiency and accelerating the energy transition.Louise Parlons Bentata (Bluemethane) on capturing residual methane and closing the final loop.Piero Gattoni (Consorzio Italiano Biogas / European Biogas Association) on circularity in agriculture and Italy’s leadership in biomethane production.Together, their stories show how biomethane is not just another renewable fuel, but a circular connector — linking energy, waste, and nutrient recovery in a single, regenerative system. From expanding feedstocks to optimizing processes and recovering every last molecule of methane, the sector is redefining what sustainable growth can look like.🎧 Tune in to learn how biomethane is helping Europe accelerate its transition to a circular economy, where nothing is wasted and everything has value.

What does it take to design products that turn today’s waste into tomorrow’s resource? In this episode of the Circular Coffee Break, host Michael Hanf sits down with Dan Dicker, Founder and CEO of Circular&Co., to explore how circular design principles can move from idea to practice.Dan began his career as a designer at Dyson, where he experienced the thrill of blue sky innovation. Yet when he proposed using recycled materials, the idea was dismissed as impractical due to cost and supply chain risks. That rejection inspired him to start his own company in Cornwall, with a clear mission: create products made from waste, built to last, and fully recyclable at the end of life.Over the past two decades, Circular&Co. has grown into a global partner for companies and brands, helping them design and scale circular products. In the conversation, Dan shares lessons learned from that journey:Why circular design means looking beyond the product to redesign supply chains and logistics.How to work with big brands by creating “win-win” solutions that fit existing operations.The importance of choosing the right battles, picking materials and products that can be circular without needing to change customer habits.Why consumer behaviour should not be the starting point. Circular products need to be the default so that adoption happens naturally.The value of clear design rules. Circular&Co. follows a “100, 10, 100” principle: 100 percent recycled content, minimum 10-year lifespan, and 100 percent recyclability.Dan also highlights new business models that could shift markets. One is Tap and Reuse, a system piloted with Waitrose where customers borrow a reusable cup with a simple card tap, returning it within days at no cost. Another is product as a service, where durable goods like washing machines are leased rather than sold, aligning manufacturer incentives with longevity and repairability.The episode also explores how Circular&Co.’s Cornish roots shaped its ethos. Being based in a coastal community brought the team closer to nature and sustainability, while proximity to Exeter University’s Centre for the Circular Economy provided vital research partnerships.For companies starting out, Dan offers practical advice. Set clear design pillars from the beginning. Work only with suppliers willing to innovate. Insist on better, even when it is hard. And above all, maintain a can do mindset. Circularity will not always be easy, but the rewards in resilience and competitive advantage are significant.As Dan puts it, “The pace is frustrating, but it will happen. Our job is to push the snowball down the hill. Over time, momentum is unstoppable.”This conversation is not only a story of one entrepreneur’s persistence, but also a guide for leaders who want to embed circularity into their own businesses. Whether you are designing products, shaping supply chains, or setting strategy, the lessons from Circular&Co. show how turning waste into value is not only possible, but essential.

For this special CCB on the Road edition, the Circular Coffee Break team packed the microphones and joined Impact Day 2025 in Tallinn — Northern Europe’s largest sustainability and impact event.Across two days of lively discussions, we sat down with innovators, policy leaders, and changemakers who are redefining how circularity, finance, and leadership come together to build a more sustainable world.Each conversation explores a simple but powerful question:👉 How do we turn impact into action?From the trading floors of Nasdaq to regenerative farms, from MIT labs to hotel kitchens, our guests share stories of ambition, experimentation, and purpose, all showing that circularity isn’t a department or a buzzword, but a mindset that connects everything we do.In this Impact Day 2025 special, you’ll hear from:Monika Tamošiūnaitė – Nasdaq → On how financial disclosure and transparency can spark real-world change.Andrus Treier – Environmental Investment Centre (KIK) → On why small, local projects can add up to massive systemic impact.Christopher Flensborg – SEB → On reimagining water as an economic asset and key sustainability lens.Dr. Gregory Norris – MIT / SHINE Initiative → On “handprints” — the positive impacts that multiply when we act.Frank Muro – Environmental Impacts Academy → On building the mindset and skills to move from intention to implementation.Kaisa Sibelius – Forum Virium Helsinki → On designing circular tools that keep creating value even after projects end.Madis Laid – Duco Hotels → On redefining “luxury” and tackling waste in the hospitality industry.Miglė Makuškaitė-Survilė – Planet Positive → On engaging employees to make sustainability part of everyday culture.Salla Sulasuo – Paulig Group → On embedding sustainability into corporate DNA — from sourcing to innovation.Together, these conversations paint a vivid picture of where circularity is heading — beyond frameworks and KPIs, into real transformation across sectors and generations.☕ Whether you work in business, policy, education, or activism, this episode offers an inspiring glimpse into how people across Europe and beyond are putting impact at the center of their decisions.🎙️ Circular Coffee Break – On the Road at Impact Day 2025Because the most powerful ideas often start over a cup of coffee.

The CCB Podcast is partnering with the Circular Valley Forum 2025, which takes place on November 14th in Wuppertal under the theme “Partnerships for a Circular Economy.”In this teaser, Michael speaks with Carsten Gerhardt, founder of Circular Valley and Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. He shares what makes the Forum a unique platform for collaboration and what participants can look forward to at this year’s event.Tune in for a first glimpse of the conversations and insights that will shape our special live episode from the Forum.

Polyester and nylon dominate the textile industry because they are affordable, durable, and versatile. But these same materials are also among the leading sources of microplastic pollution worldwide, from the clothes we wear to the carpets beneath our feet. Addressing this challenge is complex, but innovation is beginning to provide new answers.In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, host Michael Hanf is joined by Andrea Ferris, Co-Founder and CEO of Intrinsic Advanced Materials and co-inventor of a breakthrough technology designed to embed biodegradable pathways into synthetic fibers. The result: textiles that retain the strength and performance of polyester while reducing their long-term environmental impact.Andrea shares her journey from managing uniform programs for McDonald’s to spearheading textile innovation with global brands. What started as a practical need to “make a better polyester” has evolved into a technology now available in 18 countries and used by retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Hanes.The conversation explores: 🔹 The scale of microfiber pollution and why synthetics are unlikely to disappear anytime soon 🔹 How biodegradable pathways work at the polymer level to reduce microplastic pollution 🔹 The importance of creating a drop-in solution that doesn’t change consumer behavior 🔹 Lessons learned from scaling new materials across global supply chains 🔹 How brands, regulators, and consumers are shaping the pace of adoption 🔹 Why affordability and infrastructure are critical to mainstreaming sustainable fibers 🔹 The role of champions inside companies who push innovation forward 🔹 The growing consumer awareness of microplastics and their health impactsAndrea emphasizes that incremental change matters. While some argue for eliminating synthetics entirely, the reality is that 70 million metric tons of polyester are produced annually, projected to reach 90 million by 2030. Realistic, scalable solutions that work with existing systems are essential.She also points to rising consumer awareness: studies show microplastics are found in seafood and even in human bodies, with textile fibers making up a majority of the fragments detected. Public concern is pushing industry and regulators to act faster, creating both challenges and opportunities for innovators.For entrepreneurs, Andrea’s advice is clear: start by solving the problems closest to you. Her own trigger moment came during a corporate sustainability webcast that asked suppliers to rethink their greatest impact. By focusing on the uniform program she was responsible for, she was able to identify a tangible problem and create a scalable solution.Looking ahead, Andrea envisions a textile industry that within 10–15 years has true circular systems in place, with more sustainable fibers, PFAS eliminated, and recycling embedded at scale. To get there, she believes industry must take the lead: “They can, they should, and they are.”This episode offers an unfiltered look at the challenges of scaling innovation in one of the world’s most entrenched industries and the promise of technologies that turn today’s problems into tomorrow’s solutions.🎧 Listen in to learn how biodegradable pathways could help tackle microfiber pollution and why pragmatic, step-by-step innovation is the way forward.