FOCUS SESSION IV / 17 October 2025 / 15:30 - 17:00
Advancing the Circular Economy - What still needs to be done?
Moderator: Marion Huber-Humer, BOKU University Vienna (AT)
Panelists:
Marco Frey, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa (IT)
Miguel Filipe da Costa Nogueira, University of Lisbon (PT) - Winner of the IWWG "Waste Vision 2100" Award for young scientists
N.N., Sustainability Manager of Forte Village Resort (IT)
Debra Reinhart, University Central Florida (US)
Hans-Christian Eberl, European Commission (BE)
Jinhui Li, Tsinghua University (CN)
As we face mounting environmental challenges, from resource depletion to waste management crises, the concept of a circular economy has emerged as a beacon of hope. For example, 10 years ago in December 2015, the European Union introduced the first Circular Economy Package. This package aimed to accelerate the transition to a circular economy by setting ambitious recycling targets, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable production and consumption practices across member states. Within the waste management community “circularity of waste materials”, meaning technical recycling of diverse wastes streams, is an intended goal already since the 1970s.
However, the circular economy is more than just recycling; it is about rethinking entire systems. It challenges us to design products for longevity, reuse materials at the end of their life cycle, and minimize waste at every stage. While some progress has been made in recent years, there is still much work to be done to fully realize its potential. From policy frameworks and technological advancements to consumer behavior and corporate responsibility, the journey toward a truly circular economy requires collaboration across all stakeholders and sectors of society.
We are delighted to welcome high-ranking experts on the panel who will provide us with insights into the latest political developments regarding the circular economy at the EU level, present the situation in China and the US, reflect the economic perspectives and the view of the business sector, and offer a visionary outlook on the future. Additionally, the audience will be actively involved in the discussion and questions through interactive participation. Together, we will explore the barriers that remain, the opportunities that lie ahead, and the concrete steps we can take to accelerate the CE transition.
Marion Huber-Humer is Full Professor for Global Waste Management at BOKU University Vienna, and Head of the Institute of Waste Management and Circularity. She is member of the Managing Board of the IWWG (International Waste Working Group), board member of the ÖVA (Austrian Association for Management of Contaminated Sites) and of the ÖWAV (Austrian Water and Waste Management Association), vice-president of ISWA Austria and member of the DGAW “Academy of Circular Economy”. Her current research focuses on the investigation of sustainable global waste management concepts and circular economy approaches, biological waste processing, compost quality, sustainable landfill technologies, process and emission monitoring.
