Circular Valley Forum 2023
Press materials for free use
09:30
09:30
RECEPTION
10:00
10:00
OPENING PLENUM
Memorandum of Understanding between North Rhine-Westphalia and Flanders
Großer Saal
Memorandum of Understanding between North Rhine-Westphalia and Flanders
Großer Saal
Waste legislation is often national. Closing material flows across borders is therefore a key challenge for a properly working Circular Economy. The border region NRW/Flanders is the largest cross-border metropolitan area with a strong industrial background in Europe. A Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Circular Economy across borders between NRW and Flanders therefore sets an example for the development of a Circular Economy across borders.
- Keynotes by the Minister Presidents Hendrik Wüst and Jan Jambon
- Keynote from a business perspective - Christian Kullmann (CEO Evonik)
10:45
10:45
Energy - the basis of a Circular Economy
Großer Saal
Großer Saal
The availability of renewable energy is an essential requirement for closing value chains (especially reverse logistics, sorting, dismantling and recycling processes), as well as for production in the basic industries. The panel will address the opportunities and risks of the energy transition.
Panel:
Moderation:
- Christian Kullmann (CEO Evonik)
- Patrick Wendeler (CEO BP Europe)
- Paul Höller (State Secretary MWIKE NRW)
- Dr. Jürgen Tzschoppe (CEO, Statkraft/Oslo)
- Markus Hilkenbach (CEO WSW)
Moderation:
- Philip Krohn (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
11:30
11:30
Circular Economy at the corporate level
Großer Saal
Großer Saal
Circular Economy starts at the level of individual companies that use more renewable raw materials or recyclates and are also concerned with the end-of-life of their products. The panel will showcase examples of Circular Valley companies and their pioneering initiatives.
Panel:
Moderation:
- Carsten Cramer (Managing Director, BVB)
- Dr. Dirk Voeste (Chief Sustainability Officer, Volkswagen)
- Dr. Dorothee Becker (CEO, Becker Group)
- Felicitas Erfurt-Gordon (Managing Partner, Erfurt & Sohn KG)
- Matthias Lesch (Managing Director, Pöppelmann GmbH & Co. KG)
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich Paetzel (Chairman of the Board, Emschergenossenschaft)
- Dr. Günter Poppen (CEO, Vorwerk Elektrowerke)
- Lars Baumgürtel (CEO, ZINQ)
- Cornelius Laaser (Head Circular Economy, MUNV NRW)
Moderation:
- Andreas Muth (Head of Consulting, EY Germany)
12:30
12:30
PARALLEL PANELS
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Covestro coordinates the Horizon 2020 project Circular Foam. The project develops and demonstrates all technological steps required to achieve circularity of plastics in post-consumer applications, using the example of rigid PU foams used as insulation in refrigerators and construction.
The CIRCULAR FOAM consortium is composed of all actors required to close the circular value chain. The resulting systematic approach will be implemented in three pilot regions (North Rhine-Westphalia/DE, Silesia/PL and Greater Amsterdam region/NL).
KplusV will introduce circular concepts from the Netherlands and discuss opportunities for transfer.
ZENIT/NRW.EUROPA is member in the Enterprise Europe Network, the world's largest network for innovation and transfer. The Network supports cross-border cooperation and identifies suitable European funding opportunities for the digital and green transition.
The CIRCULAR FOAM consortium is composed of all actors required to close the circular value chain. The resulting systematic approach will be implemented in three pilot regions (North Rhine-Westphalia/DE, Silesia/PL and Greater Amsterdam region/NL).
KplusV will introduce circular concepts from the Netherlands and discuss opportunities for transfer.
ZENIT/NRW.EUROPA is member in the Enterprise Europe Network, the world's largest network for innovation and transfer. The Network supports cross-border cooperation and identifies suitable European funding opportunities for the digital and green transition.
13:15
13:15
LUNCH
Wandelhalle & Rossini
Wandelhalle & Rossini
14:00
14:00
PARALLEL PANELS
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15:00
15:00
PARALLEL PANELS
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16:15
16:15
Keynote by Minister Mona Neubaur
Großer Saal
Großer Saal
16:30
16:30
Accelerating the implementation of a Circular Economy
Großer Saal
Großer Saal
If technologies, willingness to invest and financial resources are available, how can they be implemented quickly, taking into account the legal framework and necessary approval processes, e.g. for the construction of new recycling plants? The panel will discuss challenges and opportunities from the perspectives of various stakeholders.
Panel:
Moderator:
- Oliver Krischer (Minister MUNV NRW)
- Thomas Schürmann (District President, Düsseldorf District Government)
- Jochen Braun (Head of Building & Housing, City of Wuppertal)
- Angela Titzrath (CEO Port of Hamburg)
- Dr. Gerhard Erdmann (Board Member, Steel Employers' Association)
- Lothar Leuschen (Editor-in-Chief, Westdeutsche Zeitung)
Moderator:
- Prof. Dr. Birgitta Wolf (Rector, University of Wuppertal)
17:30
17:30
Demo Day of batch 5 of startups from the Circular Economy Accelerator program
Mendelssohn Saal
Mendelssohn Saal
The startups from the 5th batch of the Circular Economy Accelerator program will present their ideas to reduce or completely avoid harmful environmental impacts.
Evening program
19:00 - 22:30 I Großer Saal
18:30
18:30
RECEPTION
Wandelhalle
Wandelhalle
19:00
19:00
Cooperation in the heart of Europe
Großer Saal
Großer Saal
The tri-border region of NRW/Flanders/Netherlands is a global leader in the development of a Circular Economy. Top politicians will shed light on the potential of further intensified cooperation in the industrial heart of Europe.
- Nathanael Liminski (Minister for Europe & Head of the NRW State Chancellery)
- Nic van der Marliere (General Delegate of Flanders in Germany)
- Max Neufeind (Head of Division "Fundamental Issues of Transformation; Social Dialogue", Federal Chancellery)
- Henrik Ahlers (Chairman of the Management Board, EY Germany)
Business, science and politics together for a Circular Economy
Großer Saal
Großer Saal
Cooperation between business, science and politics is of fundamental importance for the transition to a Circular Economy. Top representatives from all three sectors will discuss ways to accelerate the transition together.
- Prof. Dr. Lambert T. Koch (Chairman of the German University Association)
- Heike Prinz (Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG)
- Marc-Oliver Pahl (Secretary General of the German Council for Sustainable Development RNE)
- Gunther Wölfges (Chairman of the Board of Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal)
Getting the message across
Großer Saal
Großer Saal
A key challenge in the transition to a Circular Economy is raising awareness, particularly in society, of the need for fundamental change. Artists and communication experts talk about their ways and means of conveying messages.
- Nanette Braun (UN)
- Sir Tony Cragg (sculptor)
- Peter Voss (photographer)
22:30
22:30
CLOSING OF THE EVENT
Offenbach Saal
Offenbach Saal