Circular Valley Convention 2026 puts early R strategies and digital solutions in the spotlight
13.02.2026At the 2026 Circular Valley Convention, which takes place on 11 and 12 March at the Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf, leading politicians, industrialists and scientists will discuss how early R strategies can accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The focus will be on concrete approaches to conserving resources from the outset, rethinking value creation and advancing industrial transformation.
Many renowned speakers were also present in 2025
© Jan Turek/Circular Valley
How can the circular economy strengthen resilience, reduce dependencies, and boost competitiveness? This question will be at the heart of the Circular Valley Convention 2026. Bringing together the “who's who” of the circular economy, the convention will feature high-ranking voices from politics, leading industrial companies, science and civil society. It will place a special focus on the early R strategies: Refuse, Rethink, Redesign, Reduce.
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider will provide key political impetus when he speaks at the Circular Valley Convention on the status and implementation of the National Circular Economy Strategy. In his speech, he will outline the importance of the circular economy for the environment, the economy and industrial policy, and show how the circular economy can contribute to securing critical raw materials, strengthening resilience and ensuring Germany's economic independence.
The co-hosts of the Circular Valley Convention will present the industry perspective. Frank Meyer (Henkel), Talke Schaffranek (BASF), Dr Ralf Düssel (Evonik), Dr Hendrik Wehr (Vorwerk) and Dr Timo Flessner (Bayer) will discuss the internal changes companies need to make to embrace the circular economy strategically. These changes include new ways of thinking, altered processes and business models, as well as addressing the question of how companies can implement the circular economy throughout the entire value chain, from design to implementation. Not only will BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Henkel and Vorwerk be present on stage, they will also have their own exhibition stands where they will showcase concrete solutions.
In 2026, CVC will continue to be a joint initiative of Circular Valley, Messe Düsseldorf and Fraunhofer Institutes
© Jan Turek/Circular Valley
Refuse, Rethink, Redesign, Reduce: Circular economy begins at the start
The convention will focus on early R strategies, which offer significant potential for conserving resources and effecting systemic change. Matthias Lesch (Pöppelmann), Prof. Dr. Welf-Guntram Drossel (Fraunhofer IWU), Tobias Albers (Kearney), Prof. Dr. Dr. Robert Schlögl (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation), Dr. Maike Albers-Malkus (NRW.Bank) and Ingo Noppen (Wupperverband) will discuss the need for fundamental rethinking of products, processes and infrastructures. The focus is on the question: How can we avoid using resources for products that we don't need in the first place?
The programme is complemented by prominent voices from academia and civil society, who contribute different perspectives on the opportunities offered by the circular economy. These include Reiner Hoffmann, Chairman of the German Council for Sustainable Development, Prof. Dr. Channing Robertson from Stanford University, and Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Schmidt, President of the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research. Their contributions show how the circular economy is not just an industrial or technological issue, but a process of transformation for society as a whole.
“The focus on refuse, rethink, redesign and reduce makes it clear that the path to circular value creation is set very early on. The Circular Valley Convention brings together the people shaping the circular economy: top politicians, leading companies, excellent scientists, and influential members of civil society,” says Dr Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.
Digitalization and life-extending R-strategies in focus
In addition to early R-strategies, the Circular Valley Convention 2026 focuses on other central levers of the circular economy: extending product lifecycles and the role of digitalization, energy, and artificial intelligence as crucial enablers. Esteemed speakers from politics, industry, science, and technology will discuss how reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, and repurpose contribute to extending product lifecycles and which digital tools are essential for this purpose.
Digitalization as a key driver for Circular Value Creation
Under the theme “Energy, Digitalization & AI,” representatives from politics, industry, research, and technology will explore the role of digital solutions in implementing the circular economy. Speakers include Thomas Jarzombek, Member of the German Bundestag and State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs, Johannes Fischer from the VDI Technology Center, Dr. Christoph Strnadl from the Gaia-X European Association for Data and Cloud AISBL, Alexander Garbar from Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport), and Prof. Dr. Christian Doetsch from the Fraunhofer Alliance ENERGY.
Together, the speakers emphasize that digital solutions go far beyond efficiency gains: They enable transparency along value chains, new business models, and more precise control of material and energy flows, making them a key lever for implementing the circular economy. Companies like duisport will also present their approaches in the convention’s exhibition area, making digital solutions for the circular economy tangible.
Extending product lifespans: Mid-R-strategies in practice
Another thematic focus is on the mid-level, life-extending R-strategies: reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, and repurpose. In a program block on the second day of the event, representatives from various industries will demonstrate how products can be used longer, repaired, or repurposed – from machinery and consumer goods to construction products.
Speakers include Michael Scharpf, Head of Sustainable Construction at Holcim, Ansgar Thole, President and Managing Director of Komatsu, Walter Ahn, Founder of WASTO-PAC, Thomas Krämer, Director Asia/Pacific at WIPOTEC and Andre Rolfes, Head of Sustainable Finance and CSR at GEFA BANK. Komatsu and GEFA BANK will also be represented with their own booths in the exhibition area.
The presentations highlight that extending product lifespans not only offers ecological benefits but also unlocks economic potential, such as through new service offerings, data-driven business models, and more stable supply chains.
Construction as a key industry for the circular economy
A special industry focus of the Circular Valley Convention is on the construction sector, which – due to its high material consumption, long usage cycles, and complex material flows – represents a central field of action for the circular economy. In a keynote speech, Ina Scharrenbach, Minister for Home, Municipal Affairs, Construction, and Digitalization of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, will discuss circular construction in NRW and the significance of political frameworks, regulatory requirements, and public governance for transforming the construction industry.
Further program sessions will show how these frameworks can be implemented in practice, with representatives from industry and materials management. Companies such as Holcim, Teijin, Lhoist (with a booth in the exhibition area), and Oetelshofen will provide insights into circular building materials, new material concepts, and approaches to reducing primary raw materials. The Circular Valley Convention thus deliberately delves deep, connecting strategic perspectives with concrete industrial applications along the construction value chain.
Top Executives on the opportunities of the circular economy
The program is rounded off by insights from top executives who view the circular economy from an overall corporate responsibility perspective. Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl, CEO of Vorwerk, Dr. Henrik Ahlers, CEO of EY Germany and Dr. Stephan Kothrade, Board Member and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of BASF, will share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of the circular economy – from basic materials to consumer goods. BASF and Vorwerk will also be present with exhibition booths at the Circular Valley Convention.
“Circular Valley Convention enables an in-depth exploration of the key levers of the circular economy – from digital enablers and life-extending R-strategies to key industries such as construction. The exchange between politics, industry, and science is crucial,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.
Conference, exhibition, and networking in one place
Under the motto “Uniting Industries for a Circular Tomorrow,” the Circular Valley Convention 2026 once again combines conference, exhibition, and networking into a holistic format. Numerous exhibitors will present concrete products, technologies, and business models along the entire product lifecycle, making the circular economy tangible for professional audiences.
