2025-09-24
Circular Valley Forum 2025: Crossing borders together
The photo shows former Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon and North Rhine-Westphalian Minister-President Hendrik Wüst shaking hands after signing the Memorandum of Understanding at Circular Valley Forum 2023.
Source: Jan Turek/Circular Valley
Source: Jan Turek/Circular Valley
The focus of this year's major annual meeting on circular economy is cooperation. Politicians are also sending a strong signal in this regard.
The transformation to a circular economy can only become reality when countries and industries work together. When people collaborate across borders, ideas become concrete projects. This is the goal of the Circular Valley Forum 2025.
On November 14, 2025, over 1,200 prominent figures from business, politics, science, and society will gather once again at the Historic Town Hall in Wuppertal. The theme of this year's annual circular economy meeting is “Action across Borders and Industries,” focusing on how cooperation across industries and national borders can contribute to implementing a circular economy.
In this regard, politicians are taking an important step forward. The successful cooperation between Flanders and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will extend to the Netherlands at the November event. Jo Brouns (Flemish Minister of the Environment and Agriculture), Thierry Aartsen (Minister of Environment and Public Transport from the Netherlands), and Oliver Krischer (Minister of the Environment, Environmental Protection and Transportation of North-Rhine-Westphalia) will sign the cross-border cooperation agreement. "This will solidify this expanded collaboration at the heart of Europe," says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.
"At Circular Valley, we bring together the right partners to create alliances that transcend industry and national borders."
In addition to sending this important political signal, the forum also demonstrates that the business community is actively on board: CEOs and CXOs from major industrial and midsized companies are participating again this year, including representatives from Salzgitter Flachstahl, Aurubis, and Evonik.
As in previous years, the Circular Valley Forum will offer two formats. Discussions on key topics take place on the main stage, while roundtables in the halls of the historic town hall enable confidential exchanges between network partners. The program also features international startups presenting their innovative business models for a functioning circular economy.
“Cooperation is the key to the transformation to a circular economy. At Circular Valley, we bring together the right partners to create alliances that transcend industry and national borders,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, initiator of Circular Valley, emphasizing the importance of cooperation.
The Circular Valley Forum 2025 emphasizes once again that the path to a sustainable future lies in cooperation—and the greater Rhine-Ruhr region is the place where these alliances are forming.
All information about this year's Circular Valley Forum, the speakers, and the program can be found here: circular-valley.org/forum2025.
On November 14, 2025, over 1,200 prominent figures from business, politics, science, and society will gather once again at the Historic Town Hall in Wuppertal. The theme of this year's annual circular economy meeting is “Action across Borders and Industries,” focusing on how cooperation across industries and national borders can contribute to implementing a circular economy.
In this regard, politicians are taking an important step forward. The successful cooperation between Flanders and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will extend to the Netherlands at the November event. Jo Brouns (Flemish Minister of the Environment and Agriculture), Thierry Aartsen (Minister of Environment and Public Transport from the Netherlands), and Oliver Krischer (Minister of the Environment, Environmental Protection and Transportation of North-Rhine-Westphalia) will sign the cross-border cooperation agreement. "This will solidify this expanded collaboration at the heart of Europe," says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.
"At Circular Valley, we bring together the right partners to create alliances that transcend industry and national borders."
In addition to sending this important political signal, the forum also demonstrates that the business community is actively on board: CEOs and CXOs from major industrial and midsized companies are participating again this year, including representatives from Salzgitter Flachstahl, Aurubis, and Evonik.
As in previous years, the Circular Valley Forum will offer two formats. Discussions on key topics take place on the main stage, while roundtables in the halls of the historic town hall enable confidential exchanges between network partners. The program also features international startups presenting their innovative business models for a functioning circular economy.
“Cooperation is the key to the transformation to a circular economy. At Circular Valley, we bring together the right partners to create alliances that transcend industry and national borders,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, initiator of Circular Valley, emphasizing the importance of cooperation.
The Circular Valley Forum 2025 emphasizes once again that the path to a sustainable future lies in cooperation—and the greater Rhine-Ruhr region is the place where these alliances are forming.
All information about this year's Circular Valley Forum, the speakers, and the program can be found here: circular-valley.org/forum2025.
If you have any questions or interview requests, please contact us by e-mail at press@circular-valley.org
The image may be used free of charge for reporting purposes, provided you cite the source.
The image may be used free of charge for reporting purposes, provided you cite the source.
The non-profit Circular Valley Foundation brings together the relevant stakeholders. Across industries and technologies, companies, startups, academia, and policymakers are working together to develop solutions for the transformation to a true circular economy. Public relations, the world's first circular economy accelerator, and policy recommendations are the foundation's main areas of focus.
