The conference consists of a joint introductory part and panel discussion, and three parallel tracks
Day 1
03 Nov 2015
Day 2
04 Nov 2015
Day 3
05 Nov 2015
Day 4
06 Nov 2015
Day 5
07 Nov 2015
CIRCULAR ECONOMY MODEL
The European Commission announced a new, more ambitious circular economy strategy to be published by the end of 2015. In May 2015 the Commission published the Circular Economy roadmap and launched a public consultation on the subject, which was opened until the 20th August 2015. Nevertheless, some countries, regions and corporations recognize the opportunities the model creates. Why and how? Why is the collaboration of different sectors and stakeholders crucial?
A circular economy transition could improve European competitiveness and create better economic, social and environmental outcomes than the current development path, giving rise to annual benefits of around EUR 1.8 trillion a year. The presentation will outline the opportunities of a circular economy and provide insights into the transition pathways for businesses, regions and municipalities.
Transition to a circular economy: the Flanders’ Materials Programme
Through an extensive system of waste collection, sorting and recycling, Flanders has become the global leader in the field of waste treatment over the past thirty years. The existing knowledge, facilities and legislative framework allow Flanders to realise the shift to sustainable materials management.
Jorn Verbeeck
12:00 - 13:00
Lunch
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES
One of the most important steps towards circular economy is product redesign and redesign of business models. How do businesses approach this redesign? How can effective design help closing the loop at the end of the product lifetime?
Host: Marjana Dermelj, Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy
Philips focuses on new business models that enable us to control the total lifecycle of products, thus providing the opportunity to maximize and monetize innovation in asset productivity.
Closing material loops and upcycling – polyamide 6
In 2007 Aquafil established ECONYL process for the regeneration of the basic raw materials for their products from waste fishing nets, textile parts of carpets and industrial residues in Julon (Ljubljana). Julon is the only company that process polyamide 6 waste to such extent.
Timber window consists of a number of materials and not just of wood. How to choose appropriate materials in the stage of development of new windows and what to do with timber windows after the end of life-time?
Aleš Ugovšek
15:00 - 15:15
Break
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUNICIPALITIES
Materials and products at the end of their life cycle are resources for circular economy. To harvest the benefits of circular economy all stakeholders need to cooperate. In the linear production model, waste means costs. Waste prevention, reuse and closing the loop by efficient separate collection and recycling may bring opportunities to local communities. How can municipalities contribute to the efficient use of resources? How can municipalities benefit from collecting materials and closing the loops?
Host: Alenka Gorza Jereb, director of Chamber of Local Public Economy
Repair and ReUse networks – Added value for local communities!
R.U.S.Z. initiated the Repair Network Vienna in 1999 - a success story. Meanwhile Repair and ReUse networks are mandatory part of the EU waste legislation (Waste Framework, Art. 11) fitting perfectly into the concept of Circular Economy.
Giving packaging waste a new chance: Plastic Bottle for Plastic Bottle project.
Each company in Slovenia should ask themselves what more it may do in the field of waste management and packaging waste management - with separate collection at a source as a first step. At least some type of recovery is possible for majority of waste or materials in waste, giving those materials new forms of use.
Katja Slokan
15:00 - 15:15
Break
CLOSING NATURAL LOOPS
Phosphorus is one of the essential nutrients for plants, animals and humans. There is no substitute and there never will be. At present, large amounts of phosphorus are wasted all along the food production cycle, often causing environmental problems such as water pollution. One of the phosphorus recovery solutions is composting food and biodegradable waste. How are different stakeholders managing to prevent food waste? How may food waste be incorporated into natural cycles? How can it contribute to higher quality of food production and lessening impacts on the environment?
Host: Ladeja Godina Košir, Giacomelli media, connector and managing director
The presentation will focus on WRAP’s work with local communities across the UK to reduce the amount of food waste produced by households and how this fits within a wider programme of work to improve the overall management of food waste in the UK.
Using tehnology and new forms of cooperation opens the path towards the future with less food waste. Creating new business and cost efficient system enables answering the question what we may do about the problem by exploring how we may make sure that the food is being used or reprocessed on time. New business opportunities and new products are created along the way.
Separate collection of biowaste: principles, benefits and successful case studies (also in dense city centres)
The key role of organics in optimized systems for maximised use of resources. Operational principles for cost‐optimised and performing schemes for separate collection, and related facts and figures, with particular focus on the case of Milan (largest formal scheme for food waste).
Large amount of wastes containing organic carbon (C) and nutrients from agro-industrial and municipal origins are produced daily, mainly in the ‘‘developed societies’’. The proper use of such by-products after composting to restore or to increase soil fertility has been well known for over 2000 years, since Roman Empire.
Claudio Ciavatta
15:00 - 15:15
Break
PANEL DISCUSSION: HOW CAN SLOVENIA SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Discussion among the panelists and conference participants will answer the main two questions: Will Slovenia become an active part and co-create circular economy, or will simply observe? If we decide to make a transition to circular economy, how we’ll do it and what we need?