CIRCULAR WEEK 2024
During the seventh edition of Circular Week, a wide range of events took place across Europe, including workshops, webinars, meetings, expert panels, and matchmaking sessions, totaling nearly 40 different events across Europe.
These events focused on various aspects of the circular economy, such as decarbonization
of transport, industrial symbiosis, circular construction and sustainable FMCG: extended producer responsibility.
For five days, from October 21 to 27, representatives from the European Union, local authorities, entrepreneurs, as well as scientists and managers engaged in the circular economy discussed urgent issues facing our planet, circular models, and the goals we must set to protect Earth's resources.
"Road Transport Decarbonisation Day"
Circular Week 2023 began on Monday, October 21
The main theme of the first day of Circular Week 2024 was the decarbonization of transport during the "Road Transport Decarbonisation Day". The event was opened by Ambassador Anna Clunes from the British Embassy in Warsaw and Secretary of State Krzysztof Bolesta from the Ministry of Climate and Environment, emphasizing the need for immediate changes and the transformation of transport systems both in Poland and the United Kingdom.
A key challenge for the industry is that current technologies are not yet advanced enough to meet the ambitious climate goals of the European Union. One of the main issues is the limited range and performance of electric vehicles (EVs) compared to diesel-powered vehicles. Additionally, as noted by the speakers, underdeveloped infrastructure poses a significant barrier to the development of low-emission transport. Experts at the event highlighted the role of education, the need to raise awareness around the transformation, and the necessity of cooperation among all market stakeholders. The discussions underscored that despite progress, significant obstacles still stand in the way of fully decarbonizing road transport. Changes are happening before our eyes, but as Tomasz Gasinski, PhD, from Deloitte, pointed out, true transformation requires time, effort, and commitment!
"Industrial Symbiosis for Circular Economy"
Tuesday (October 22)
Second Day of Circular Week was dedicated to circular business transformation strategies & industrial symbiosis.
On the second day of Circular Week, the final of the student competition dedicated to industrial symbiosis and business transformation toward a circular economy took place at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. Five student groups competed in the final, representing both Polish and foreign universities: Silesian University of Technology, Cracow University of Economics, Poznań University of Economics, as well as the University of Oxford and İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniversitesi Turizm Fakültesi.
Each group conducted a comprehensive and up-to-date market analysis, identifying barriers, opportunities, and potential in selected economic sectors, and presented detailed and feasible plans for implementing industrial symbiosis. The students' projects were evaluated by a jury composed of esteemed experts in their fields, ensuring high-quality substantive assessment:
➡ Huub von Frijtag Drabbe, Netherlands, Head of the Economic Department, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Warsaw
➡ Bjørn Erik Brustad, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Norway in Warsaw
➡ Prof. Ewelina Szczech-Pietkiewicz, SGH, Department of European Union, Institute of International Economic Policy, Collegium of World Economy, Warsaw School of Economics
➡ Agnieszka Sznyk, PhD, CEO, Institute for Innovation and Responsible Development, European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
➡ Dr. Marzena Cypryańska-Nezlek, Climate Action and Social Transformation Center (4CAST), SWPS University, Institute of Psychology
➡ Thomas M. Rau, Entrepreneur, Architect, Innovator, Inspirer, and Visionary
➡ Almudena Muñoz, International Projects, Technology Centre for Furniture and Wood of the Region of Murcia (CETEM - Centro de Tecnologia Mineral)
➡ Hubert Bukowski, Scientific Director, Institute for Innovation and Responsible Development
➡ Anna Kozera-Szałkowska, Managing Director, Plastics Europe Polska
➡ Stephan Roest, Head of Strategic Circular Economy Platforms at Borealis
Grand Prize: "IZMIR Symbiotic Park"
The first place in the competition was awarded to a group of students from the University of Oxford and İzmir Katip Çelebi University, who presented a project of industrial symbiosis in Izmir. The project aimed to integrate industries generating the most waste, such as the alcohol, automotive, feed, dairy, cosmetics, biogas, and agriculture sectors, facilitating their exchange and reuse as raw materials for other industries.
The event was co-organized by the Warsaw School of Economics, Lazarski University in Warsaw, Silesian University of Technology, and Lodz University of Technology.
The European Sustainability Congress
2024
Wednesday (October 23)
The European Sustainability Congress is one of the largest international events dedicated to the circular economy. Its goal is to promote circular economy concepts, support sustainable business models, and foster cooperation among interested stakeholders. The Congress served as the focal point of Circular Week 2024 and took place on the 23rd of October 2024. The event brought together small and large companies, start-ups, investors, representatives of public administration, local governments, enterprises, sustainability managers, CSR professionals, and the media.
The Congress featured lectures and discussion panels led by international experts from various fields, including macroeconomics, bioeconomy, urban infrastructure, waste management, and plastics. There was also a networking area with expo booths, where circular projects and start-ups had the opportunity to promote themselves. It was an excellent platform for international networking, promoting initiatives globally, and exchanging ideas during dedicated networking sessions.
Circular Construction Day
Thursday (October 24)
The 4th day of Circular Week was dedicated to the "Circular Construction Day". The event was organized at the German Embassy in Warsaw.
The program featured panel discussions on strategies to accelerate the circular transformation of the construction sector, the selection and safe use of secondary materials, and best practices. Representatives from local administration, academia, entrepreneurs, and architects took part in the discussions.
Sustainable FMCG: Towards Extended Produce Responsibility
Friday's event (October 25)
Circular Week 2024 wrapped up with the "Sustainable FMCG: Towards Extended Producer Responsibility" conference, organized at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Poland. The event marked the conclusion of the week with a focus on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and its critical role in sustainable practices.
The event began with a warm welcome from Jennes de Mol, the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Poland, and Huub von Frijtag Drabbe, Head of the Economic Department. The first presentation was delivered by Anna Sapota from TOMRA, who provided a comprehensive overview of EPR from a European perspective. Next, Femke Den Hartog highlighted EPR as a game-changer in the transition from a linear to a circular textile chain. Finally, Katarzyna Stasiuk from the Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, shared her research on consumer attitudes toward refurbished and upcycled products.
The conference sparked lively discussions about EPR in the production, retail, and post-sale stages, covering key topics such as eco-design, digital product passports, and waste collection. During the panel, experts tackled some thought-provoking questions:
➡ Who holds responsibility within the system?
➡ Should consumer education focus on punishment or fun? How can we effectively engage consumers?
➡ What factors have the greatest impact on consumer decisions?
Our speakers reached a clear conclusion: collaboration among market stakeholders, supported by regulation and infrastructure, is essential for building successful circular systems.
The quote of the day? “Let’s dance into circularity!” - Wouter Winters coined the perfect motto for our sustainability journey. It was a fitting end to a packed Circular Week and a vibrant Friday night!
The conference was organized by INNOWO - Institute for Innovation and Responsible Development and the Polish Circular Hotspot in collaboration with the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform.