Circularity is accelerating, and the 2025 Circular Valley Forum in Wuppertal offered a vivid snapshot of how fast the transition is unfolding. The event brought together leaders from industry, science, public institutions, startups and civil society. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, ideas and a shared determination to turn circular concepts into real action.

In this special episode of the Circular Coffee Break Podcast, we bring together conversations from across the Forum to explore what circularity looks like in practice today. Each voice offers a different window into the transition, and together they reveal how interconnected and dynamic this field has become.

We begin with Tim Janßen of the Cradle to Cradle NGO, who reflects on how circularity has evolved over the past decade and why the social and ecological foundations of the movement matter more than ever.

From there we turn to science and applied research with Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner of Fraunhofer UMSICHT, who discusses how breakthrough technologies move from lab to real-world implementation.

The industry perspective comes from Rolf Bayersdörfer of Henkel Consumer Brands, Adrian Blum of Evonik, and Björn Hoffmann of BASF. They explore how large companies navigate complex supply chains, develop circular raw materials, scale circular business models and build partnerships that make change possible.

We then move into systems thinking with Inge Neven, CEO of VITO, who explains how real scale demonstrators and mini factories help bridge the gap between research and industry.

Steffen Knodt, representing the German Aerospace Centre and the UN Ocean Decade, expands the conversation to ocean health and global material flows, showing how circularity and planetary boundaries are closely linked.

Several startup founders share how circularity is becoming an engine of innovation. Marc Diefenbach of rhinopaq introduces reusable solutions for B2B packaging. Felix May of recarbished explains how new ownership models can secure valuable materials at the end of vehicle lifecycles. Peter Johnson of LightEd offers a powerful story about turning waste into solar solutions for off-grid communities in Nigeria and Rwanda, highlighting the social dimension of circularity.

We close with a cultural perspective from Carsten Cramer of Borussia Dortmund, who reflects on how football can make sustainability and circularity accessible to millions of fans.

Across all conversations, a few themes stand out. Circularity is no longer a concept. It is becoming a strategic necessity across industries. Progress depends on collaboration across borders and systems. Innovation must be demonstrated at scale, not only discussed in theory. And culture, storytelling and public engagement are essential for driving societal adoption.

This episode offers a panoramic view of circularity at a moment of real momentum. It highlights the people, ideas and partnerships pushing the movement forward and invites listeners to reflect on what it will take to accelerate the transition even further.

Listen in and join the conversation.

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