In cooperation with Circular Change, the first Circular Economy platform in the Adriatic Region, the Research Group Circular Economy Systems intends to explore and advance the interdisciplinary theoretical foundations of a Circular Economy in relation to systems research as well as the various applications of a pathway towards it, advancing the current status quo of Circular Economy research and applications.

The concept of a Circular Economy is grounded in the study of feedback-rich non-linear systems, particularly living systems. In this eco-systems framework the research group explores how our economic systems can work like organisms, processing “nutrients” that can be fed back into cycles—on a biological or technical level. The contemporary understanding of the Circular Economy and its applications to small- and large-scale economic systems evolved integrating diverse features and contributions from a variety of concepts sharing the idea of interrelated closed loops.

A Circular Economy is a regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimized by slowing, closing, and narrowing energy and material loops, to achieve business as well as national economic models that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

Kenneth Boulding‘s essay “The Economics of the Coming Spaceship Earth” is often referred to as one origin of the concept of the “Circular Economy”. Boulding, who co-founded the Society for General Systems Research (today: ISSS) together with Ludwig von Bertalanffy, was one of the first in 1966 who raised awareness towards an “Open Economy” with unlimited input resources and output sinks as a contrast model to a “Closed Economy” with tied resources and sinks.

At the BCSSS the research group focuses on transdisciplinary research to translate the foundations of systems science into creating further value, in environmental and societal benefits, zero waste and highly productive innovations and Next Economy growth models, to contribute to the necessary systemic shift that builds long-term resilience and future oriented opportunities.

Ladeja Godina Košir  is an internationally recognised Circular Economy Leader, the finalist of The Circular Awards / WEF 2018. An entrepreneur with a background in the creative industries, today the driving force of the circular economy in Slovenia and Central-Eastern Europe.
Ladeja is the Founder and Executive Director of Circular Change, the first circular economy platform in the Adriatic Region. She regularly publishes on CE and is a co-author of the “Roadmap for CE in Slovenia”. She is an inspirational speaker and empowering moderator at international CE events.
She is a member of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) coordination group in Brussels. She contributed to different juries and program boards in the field of marketing and innovation and won several national and international awards for her creative work and for development of innovative business models.

ladeja@circularchange.com

Karin Huber-Heim is founder and CEO at ‘csr & communication’, an internationally operating consulting firm for Corporate Sustainability & Innovation, Stakeholder Relationship Management & Communications, and dedicated to reach the Global Goals.
Karin studied communication with a strong focus on psychology at the University of Vienna and has academic education in CSR-Management. She publishes regulary on topics related to sustainable development and is a conference speaker and moderator, she is enthusiastic about the great opportunities the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide for society and embraces Circular Economy for sustainable business innovation. As Board Member of the Global Compact Network Austria, she leads an intersectoral working group on SGD 12, targeting responsible consumption and production, for Circular Economy.
Karin also is Academic Programm Director of a postgraduate masterprogramm on “Sustainability & Responsible Management” and lecturer of Business & Management Ethics, CSR and Stakeholder Communication at various universities of applied sciences.

karin.huber-heim@bcsss.org