After launching the newest Research Group of the BCSSS “Circular Economy Systems“, the affiliated persons were very active throughout autumn and winter so far.

Closing the Loop – A Circular Economy Revolution.

In September Karin Huber-Heim joined the this human world film festival, hosted by the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Topkino Vienna, as a panellist. Together with other representatives Karin discussed the screened film “Closing the Loop”, a documentary film about the Circular Economy Revolution.

Circular Economy and Creative Industry.

In October leaders of the Circular Economy Systems Research Group joint the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) meeting in Brussels from October 22nd to October 24th in 2018. This second meeting of the Coordination Group of the ECESP provided its members with an opportunity to discuss the practical implementation of the Platform’s workplan, outline topics for the 2019 conference and develop new partnerships. Ladeja Godina Košir, representing Circular Change and the BCSSS, was elected as Coordination Group Chair of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) of the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee for 2019. Karin and Ladeja, furthermore, proposed a new topic to be explored – Circular Economy & Creative Industries.

The Circular Triangle.

Ladeja also joined the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) in Yokohama, Japan in October 2018 as part of the EU Delegation. She led the seminar “The Circular Triangle: Circular Economy, Circular Culture, Circular Change – Society as a Driving Force of Change” for the authors of The Kyoto Manifesto for Global Economics (Springer 2018). WCEF is bringing together more than 1000 experts, business leaders and policymakers to discuss and share the best circular economy solutions in the world. Ladeja was invited to contribute to the next book based on the Kyoto Manifesto.

CE Hotspot Scotland.

Karin and Ladeja both went to Glasgow, Scotland for the Circular Economy Hotspot 2018, late October and early November 2018. The CE Hotspot Scotland was a major international event to showcase Scotland’s progressive approach to developing a circular economy and the best of Scotland’s growing circular businesses to a national and global audience. Karin and Ladeja attended the Hotspot particularly to pitch Slovenia as the 2020 Circular Hotspot venue.

Sustainability in Science.

Karin also joined the “Science in Transition” (WiW) Conference of the Alliance for Sustainable Universities as a panellist, on November 13th.

Circular Future.

On November 15th Karin joined the Disruptive Innovation Festival 2018, the world’s largest online festival of ideas, organized by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The event took place in Vienna, jointly organized with the Circular Economy Club Vienna, and was webstreamed all around the globe. She contributed at the panel and discussed opportunities and challenges of a “Circular Future” with her fellow panellists as well as the audience.

BCSSS representation at the EU Environment Action Programme.

The BCSSS representation at the 8th EU Environment Action Programme – Shaping the Future of EU Environmental Policy-Workshops in Hainburg, Austria was remarkable, as not only Niko Korpar, a representative of the Circular Economy Systems research group, was present but also BCSSS Managing Director Stefan Blachfellner. Niko spoke about Circular Change at the event.

Further participations in Poland and Georgia. 

Ladeja also attended the 3rd Open Eyes Summit, 20 – 21 November in Krakow, Poland. Open Eyes Economy considers itself an intellectual and implementation movement focusing on values, economy and society both on the regional and global level. Ladeja was invited to participate in a dialogue on Circular Cities.
She also attended an event by the Local Economic Development (LED) Forum on the “Economic Power of Cities” as a moderator on November 29th in Tbilisi, Georgia. She was asked to guide through a debate in her field of expertise: Circular Economy – A real driving forces of the circular transformation.