CLOSING THE LOOP - Circular Economy: boosting business, reducing waste

UPDATE: Dear Stakeholders, we’ve been delighted by the fantastic response to the Circular Economy conference. We are going to do our best to ensure that everyone gets a chance to share their views either by attending the conference, webstreaming (see links below in the agenda) or via the public consultation now accessible here:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/closing_the_loop_en.htm

Reluctantly, because of this excellent response, please be aware that we will need to limit organisations to two representatives only at the conference. Admittance to the conference will be possible only on the basis of the confirmation email that will be sent to registered participant in the coming weeks.

Make your voice heard in Europe

As announced in the 2015 Commission Work Programme, a new and more ambitious Circular Economy Package will be presented before the end of 2015. The package will lay out the green growth opportunities and build on the previous EU resource efficiency and innovation initiatives. To support the public consultation in collecting the views of stakeholders on the main policy options and measures explored for this initiative, the Commission is organizing this Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference on 25 June 2015.

The conference is open to all stakeholders wishing to contribute in shaping the European economy policy making. It will consist of a plenary session with keynotes from circular economy experts and business representatives, followed by a series of split-up sessions addressing specific factors of the circular economy, and it will be closed by a panel.

We also invite you to bring along examples of your own circular economy initiatives to share with others on the day. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Please note that attendance is free but registration is required.

What is the circular economy?
A circular economy is an economic model which aims at keeping the added value of products for as long as possible in the economic value chain and seeks to minimise residual waste. This means that resources stay longer within the economy, and when a given product has reached the end of its life, it can be productively used again.

Why a circular economy?
Global competition for resources is increasing while the concentration of supply of resources, particularity critical raw materials outside the EU, is making our industry and society dependent on imports and vulnerable to high prices, market volatility and political situation in supplying countries. Transition to a more circular economy will increase resource independence and, if accompanied by increased efficiency, it can promote competitiveness. This however requires changes throughout value chains, from extraction processes, material and product design and production processes to new business and market models, from new ways of turning waste into a resource to new modes of consumer behaviour. This implies also a need for innovation and investment not only in technologies, but also in organisation, society, finance methods and policies.

Agenda

08.30 60’ Registration

CLICK HERE FOR MORNING SESSION WEB STREAM

09.30 30’ Introduction

• First Vice President of the European Commission F. Timmermans
• Introduction to the Plenary Session by Commissioner E. Bieńkowska and Commissioner K. Vella
  
  

10.00 120’ Plenary Session I:

Keynote: Vision for the Future – Business Opportunities, Models and Perspectives

• E. MacArthur, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• M. Stuchtey, Center for Business and Environment, McKinsey & Company

Moderated panel discussion and debate with the audience

The keynote speakers will be joined by:

• T. Mallet, Executive VP, Suez Environment
• G. Almgren, President, UEAPME
• J. Wates, Secretary General, European Environmental Bureau

• Moderator: P. Woodward

12.00 60’ Lunch break

13.00 90’ Split-up sessions (1st)

• Session 1 (MANS): CLICK HERE FOR WEB STREAM - Production phase
• Session 2 (GASP): CLICK HERE FOR WEB STREAM - Markets for secondary raw materials
• Session 3 (JENK): CLICK HERE FOR WEB STREAM - Consumption phase

14.30 15’ Break

14.45 90’ Split-up sessions (2nd)

• Session 4 (MANS): CLICK HERE FOR WEB STREAM - Materials and Chemicals
• Session 5 (JENK): CLICK HERE FOR WEB STREAM - Research, innovation, and investments
• Session 6 (GASP): CLICK HERE FOR WEB STREAM - Waste: complement to the legislative proposal
  (prevention, reuse, recovery)

16.15 15’ Coffee break

16.30 60’ CLICK HERE FOR WEB STREAM - Plenary Session II – feedback from split-up sessions

• MEP S. Pietikainen
• MEP S. Bonafé
• R. Schmit, Director, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, LU
• H. Bruyninckx, Executive Director, European Environment Agency
  
  
• Moderator A. Mettler, EPSC
  
  

17.30 15’ Closing

• by Vice President of the European Commission J. Katainen