Circular Valley Convention 2026
Recycling and Recovery as key to securing raw materials 24.02.2026How do recycling and recovery become strategic resources? The Circular Valley Convention 2026, taking place on March 11 and 12, also focuses on the later R-strategies – with insights from industry, politics, and science.
The Trash People by artist HA Schult
© Jan Turek/Circular Valley
With an emphasis on the later R-strategies, the Circular Valley Convention 2026 places resource recovery and reuse at the center of discussion. In the third major thematic block of the convention, experts from industry, politics, and science will discuss how recycling technologies and material cycles can become a strategic resource for industry and society.
The so-called R-strategies describe different approaches to the circular economy along the product life cycle. While early R-strategies focus on avoidance and reuse, "Recycle" and "Recover" are about reclaiming valuable raw materials from waste. The thematic block "Recycling of Resources: Recycle & Recover" addresses the question of how materials can be returned to the economic cycle at the highest possible quality after use, and what role industrial scaling, technological innovations, and political frameworks play in this process.
Industry and research show pathways for modern recycling
At the Circular Valley Convention, leading players from raw material-intensive industries and applied research come together. Dr. Britta Bookhagen from the German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA), Inge Hofkens from Aurubis, and Dorothea Flockert (Speira) provide insights into current developments in metal recycling, secondary raw materials, and industrial recovery processes.
The industrial perspective is complemented by contributions from science and technology, such as those from Prof. Dr. Regina Palkovits from the Catalaix project at RWTH Aachen University, Prof. Dr. Matthias Franke from Fraunhofer UMSICHT, and Dr. Michel Siemon from Primobius. Together, they demonstrate how innovative recycling processes, new process designs, and improved material flows can help replace primary raw materials and reduce dependence on global supply chains.
Circular Economy as a joint task for politics and industry
A political point of view in this thematic area is provided by Oliver Krischer, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Dr. Florian Kammerer, Head of Department at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety. In his presentation, Oliver Krischer explains the significance of the state circular economy strategy for North Rhine-Westphalia and shows how state politics and industry can jointly create the conditions for efficient recycling structures.
It becomes clear: Implementing the circular economy requires close cooperation between regulatory frameworks, industrial investments, and technological implementation, especially in the later phases of the product life cycle.
National Circular Economy Strategy: From action plan to practice
The keynote speech by Dr. Florian Kammerer is another highlight of the program. He discusses the action plan for the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS) and assesses the current state of its implementation.
Representatives from companies of different sizes will discuss how the goals of the NKWS can be translated into concrete business practices. The focus is on realistic implementation pathways, investment conditions, and the scaling of successful recycling solutions.
The program focus "Recycle & Recover" makes it clear that recycling is no longer just a downstream process: High-quality secondary raw materials, efficient recovery systems, and industrial cycles are increasingly becoming a competitive factor for Germany and Europe as business locations.
"By focusing on the R-strategies, the Circular Valley Convention shows what a holistic approach along the entire product life cycle can look like: from design and use to the return of materials," says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.
Trade Fair, Conference, and Networking in one place
Under the motto "Uniting Industries for a Circular Tomorrow" the Circular Valley Convention combines conference, trade fair, and networking into a comprehensive format. Numerous exhibitors present concrete products, technologies, and business models along the entire product life cycle, making the circular economy tangible for the professional audience.
The Circular Valley Convention is a joint initiative of Circular Valley, Messe Düsseldorf, and Fraunhofer Institutes. Co-hosts are BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Henkel, and Vorwerk. The convention will take place on March 11 and 12, 2026, at Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf.
