2025-10-02
Circular Valley Forum 2025: New Circular Opportunities for the Metal Industry
Source: Jan Turek/Circular Valley
One of the panels at the annual Circular Economy Meeting will focus on the metal industry. Which sectors already have good circular processes in place, and where could collaboration lead to even greater circularity?
The metal industry has always recycled valuable raw materials effectively. Nevertheless, the industry is facing new challenges. The panel discussion 'Metals – A Highly Circular Industry' at the Circular Valley Forum 2025 will highlight areas in which the industry has developed effective solutions, as well as new opportunities for greater circularity through cooperation.
The annual circular economy meeting on November 14, 2025, will be held under the motto “Action across borders and industries” and will focus in particular on how cooperation across industry and national borders can contribute to the implementation of a circular economy. The Circular Valley Forum will once again bring together over 1,200 leading figures from business, politics, science, and society at the Historic Town Hall in Wuppertal to discuss current developments, innovations, and challenges relating to the circular economy.
"The recovery of critical raw materials is a question for the entire metal industry in the future, and it can only be answered collectively," says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. There is also potential for recycling composite materials. One example is copper cables. While the metal is usually recycled, the plastic remains unused. "Such materials in particular show that no company and no industry can solve this problem alone. Only through cross-industry cooperation can true circularity be achieved,” he emphasises.
Experts from the Circular Valley network share insights into their line of work
The panel discussion, 'Metals – a highly circular industry', will address these key questions. Experts from the Circular Valley network will share insights from their respective fields. Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold, CEO of Salzgitter Flachstahl, will discuss the current position of the steel industry in the context of the circular economy and the available innovations in this area. Bruno Pelli from VALE in Brazil will share insights into the latest developments in ore mining. Among other things, VALE is looking into how raw materials can be extracted from slag. Inge Hofkens, COO of Aurubis, will discuss the potential of by-products in copper production.
Dr. Ing. Paul Mählitz from DERA will focus on critical raw materials, raising the question of how the metal industry can recover these materials more effectively alongside bulk metals. Dr. Gerhard Erdmann, a board member of the Steel Employers' Association, provides a macroeconomic and labour market perspective on the metal industry. Meanwhile, Dr. Matthias Köhler from the Federal Ministry of Economics highlights the importance of the circular economy in securing the supply of raw materials in the future.
Not only is the metal industry a good example of functioning cycles, it also demonstrates the importance of cooperation in further expanding them.
All information about this year's Circular Valley Forum, the speakers, and the program can be found here: circular-valley.org/forum2025.
The annual circular economy meeting on November 14, 2025, will be held under the motto “Action across borders and industries” and will focus in particular on how cooperation across industry and national borders can contribute to the implementation of a circular economy. The Circular Valley Forum will once again bring together over 1,200 leading figures from business, politics, science, and society at the Historic Town Hall in Wuppertal to discuss current developments, innovations, and challenges relating to the circular economy.
"The recovery of critical raw materials is a question for the entire metal industry in the future, and it can only be answered collectively," says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. There is also potential for recycling composite materials. One example is copper cables. While the metal is usually recycled, the plastic remains unused. "Such materials in particular show that no company and no industry can solve this problem alone. Only through cross-industry cooperation can true circularity be achieved,” he emphasises.
Experts from the Circular Valley network share insights into their line of work
The panel discussion, 'Metals – a highly circular industry', will address these key questions. Experts from the Circular Valley network will share insights from their respective fields. Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold, CEO of Salzgitter Flachstahl, will discuss the current position of the steel industry in the context of the circular economy and the available innovations in this area. Bruno Pelli from VALE in Brazil will share insights into the latest developments in ore mining. Among other things, VALE is looking into how raw materials can be extracted from slag. Inge Hofkens, COO of Aurubis, will discuss the potential of by-products in copper production.
Dr. Ing. Paul Mählitz from DERA will focus on critical raw materials, raising the question of how the metal industry can recover these materials more effectively alongside bulk metals. Dr. Gerhard Erdmann, a board member of the Steel Employers' Association, provides a macroeconomic and labour market perspective on the metal industry. Meanwhile, Dr. Matthias Köhler from the Federal Ministry of Economics highlights the importance of the circular economy in securing the supply of raw materials in the future.
Not only is the metal industry a good example of functioning cycles, it also demonstrates the importance of cooperation in further expanding them.
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
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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.
