2024-11-18
“The heart of the circular economy is here”
At the Circular Valley Forum, numerous ministers emphasized the importance of the major meeting in the Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal. They all believe that the network will continue to grow.
Circular Valley Forum 2024 I Source: Sandy Hausstein, Kinntop / Circular Valley
The Forum began with good news from the Chancellery and ended with the prospect of new international partners. There was a special art event at the start and rarely seen drawings at the finale – the Circular Valley Forum promoted the circular economy on Friday (November 15) on many levels and with a lot of prominent support. More than 1,200 decision-makers came together in the Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal, including members of the federal and state governments, CEOs of large corporations and innovative SMEs, two great artists - and a Meistermacher (champion maker).
Other countries show interest
At the Circular Valley Forum 2023, the heads of government of Flanders and North Rhine-Westphalia agreed on the first cross-border cooperation in the circular economy. Just one year later, Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele was able to describe where this cooperation has already become a practical reality. Companies and politicians from both regions are working together in the chemical industry, batteries and building materials. Other countries have since declared their interest in becoming part of this network, including the Netherlands and Wales.
The head of the NRW State Chancellery, Nathanael Liminski, visited all three Circular Valley Forums - and was able to explain their importance first-hand. The circular economy is particularly important for the state and for North Rhine-Westphalia as an industrial area. It offers huge opportunities to conserve resources, reduce emissions and thus become more resilient. Liminski was therefore delighted that “the heart of the circular economy” is in the extended Rhine-Ruhr region thanks to Circular Valley.
Other countries show interest
At the Circular Valley Forum 2023, the heads of government of Flanders and North Rhine-Westphalia agreed on the first cross-border cooperation in the circular economy. Just one year later, Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele was able to describe where this cooperation has already become a practical reality. Companies and politicians from both regions are working together in the chemical industry, batteries and building materials. Other countries have since declared their interest in becoming part of this network, including the Netherlands and Wales.
The head of the NRW State Chancellery, Nathanael Liminski, visited all three Circular Valley Forums - and was able to explain their importance first-hand. The circular economy is particularly important for the state and for North Rhine-Westphalia as an industrial area. It offers huge opportunities to conserve resources, reduce emissions and thus become more resilient. Liminski was therefore delighted that “the heart of the circular economy” is in the extended Rhine-Ruhr region thanks to Circular Valley.
Stadthalle becomes Save The World Hotel
The way into the Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal was an unusual one at this forum. The action artist HA Schult had printed a picture of his Save The World Hotel, built from waste, on a huge tarpaulin and used it to cover the entrance to the hall. In this way, the guests took the first message of the day directly into the panel discussions.
Tony Cragg, one of the most expensive living artists, supported the forum with a sculpture and works that even many fans were not yet familiar with. Drawings by the 75-year-old artist were on display in the forum hall.
The way into the Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal was an unusual one at this forum. The action artist HA Schult had printed a picture of his Save The World Hotel, built from waste, on a huge tarpaulin and used it to cover the entrance to the hall. In this way, the guests took the first message of the day directly into the panel discussions.
Tony Cragg, one of the most expensive living artists, supported the forum with a sculpture and works that even many fans were not yet familiar with. Drawings by the 75-year-old artist were on display in the forum hall.
HA Schult
Source: Sandy Hausstein I Kinntop / Circular Valley
Source: Sandy Hausstein I Kinntop / Circular Valley
Meistermacher names success factors
Fernando Carro, among others, provided motivation and inspiration in the afternoon of the forum. The Chairman of the Management Board of Bayer 04 Leverkusen led the club to German soccer championship and cup victory in the summer. In Wuppertal, he explained his success factors. It needs leadership, and one that is visible and in close contact with the organization. This leadership must create a team that includes as many different backgrounds and skills as possible. Those involved must be given trust and responsibility and at the same time conflicts must be recognized as necessary for good decisions. It is also crucial to involve employees as much as possible. Only those who are involved are prepared to go the extra mile.
Fernando Carro, among others, provided motivation and inspiration in the afternoon of the forum. The Chairman of the Management Board of Bayer 04 Leverkusen led the club to German soccer championship and cup victory in the summer. In Wuppertal, he explained his success factors. It needs leadership, and one that is visible and in close contact with the organization. This leadership must create a team that includes as many different backgrounds and skills as possible. Those involved must be given trust and responsibility and at the same time conflicts must be recognized as necessary for good decisions. It is also crucial to involve employees as much as possible. Only those who are involved are prepared to go the extra mile.
Fernando Carro - Chairman of the Management Board of Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Source: Sandy Hausstein, Kinntop / Circular Valley
Source: Sandy Hausstein, Kinntop / Circular Valley
Support from the cabinets
Just like the Meistermacher's speech, federal and state ministers also provided strong impulses at the Circular Valley Forum. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke presented the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS), which the cabinet is expected to adopt in December. The strategy aims to reduce waste and the consumption of raw materials and increase the proportion of recycled materials. The NKWS also includes instruments to achieve this. Public procurement and contracting are to stimulate demand and the digital product passport is to become the “game changer” for the circular economy.
Sarah Ryglewski, Minister of State in the Chancellery responsible for sustainability, defined goals and made promises at the opening of the Circular Valley Forum. Germany must become a circular industrial country and be a pioneer in the circular economy. This would make it possible to decouple raw material requirements and growth. Unlike in the past, Ryglewski said, it was not necessary to “set too many rules with good intentions”, but to resolve issues through dialogue.
Other members of the NRW state government also promoted the circular economy. Deputy Minister President Mona Neubaur is the patron of Circular Valley and pleaded for an optimistic approach: “We have to trust the citizens and companies,” she said.
Her colleague, State Minister of Labor Karl-Josef Laumann, emphasized the role of the chemical industry. With more than 100,000 jobs, North Rhine-Westphalia is now the largest location for the industry in Germany. It is therefore a key industry for the circular economy because it develops processes to reuse materials in high quality and to avoid waste. The circular economy thus opens new sales opportunities and creates good new jobs in NRW.
Just like the Meistermacher's speech, federal and state ministers also provided strong impulses at the Circular Valley Forum. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke presented the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS), which the cabinet is expected to adopt in December. The strategy aims to reduce waste and the consumption of raw materials and increase the proportion of recycled materials. The NKWS also includes instruments to achieve this. Public procurement and contracting are to stimulate demand and the digital product passport is to become the “game changer” for the circular economy.
Sarah Ryglewski, Minister of State in the Chancellery responsible for sustainability, defined goals and made promises at the opening of the Circular Valley Forum. Germany must become a circular industrial country and be a pioneer in the circular economy. This would make it possible to decouple raw material requirements and growth. Unlike in the past, Ryglewski said, it was not necessary to “set too many rules with good intentions”, but to resolve issues through dialogue.
Other members of the NRW state government also promoted the circular economy. Deputy Minister President Mona Neubaur is the patron of Circular Valley and pleaded for an optimistic approach: “We have to trust the citizens and companies,” she said.
Her colleague, State Minister of Labor Karl-Josef Laumann, emphasized the role of the chemical industry. With more than 100,000 jobs, North Rhine-Westphalia is now the largest location for the industry in Germany. It is therefore a key industry for the circular economy because it develops processes to reuse materials in high quality and to avoid waste. The circular economy thus opens new sales opportunities and creates good new jobs in NRW.
Ideas from six continents
Important momentum will come from start-ups. At the forum's DemoDay, the young companies that Circular Valley is currently supporting presented their business models to a large audience. The founders make fuel from plastic waste, extract heavy metals from water, recycle large quantities of clothing and develop urgently needed energy storage systems. Their companies are based from Argentina to Australia and from Scandinavia to Uganda.
Important momentum will come from start-ups. At the forum's DemoDay, the young companies that Circular Valley is currently supporting presented their business models to a large audience. The founders make fuel from plastic waste, extract heavy metals from water, recycle large quantities of clothing and develop urgently needed energy storage systems. Their companies are based from Argentina to Australia and from Scandinavia to Uganda.
Demo Day - Batch 7
Source: Jan Turek I Circular Valley
Source: Jan Turek I Circular Valley
The future
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, initiator of Circular Valley and host of the forum, outlined the next steps: thanks to new Circular Valley software, it is now much easier for potential business partners to come together. On March 12 and 13, there will be the first trade fair on the topic, the Circular Valley Convention in Düsseldorf. And on November 14, the next forum will be held in the heart of the circular economy.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, initiator of Circular Valley and host of the forum, outlined the next steps: thanks to new Circular Valley software, it is now much easier for potential business partners to come together. On March 12 and 13, there will be the first trade fair on the topic, the Circular Valley Convention in Düsseldorf. And on November 14, the next forum will be held in the heart of the circular economy.
