Circular Valley launches study on the enabling conditions for the circular economy
10.06.2026Companies and network partners are contributing their perspectives to a new study on implementing the circular economy – the results will be presented at the Circular Valley Forum on November 13.
“260 million € have been allocated in the federal budget for the action program [to implement the National Circular Economy Strategy]. And this despite the fact that we have to save money. This is a clear political commitment to the future project of the circular economy.” With these words, German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider emphasized the importance of the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS) in his opening speech on the second dayof the Circular Valley Convention.
German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider at his opening speech at the Circular Valley Convention on march 12, 2026
© Jan Turek/Circular Valley
Against this backdrop, the Circular Valley Foundation is launching a comprehensive study on the enabling conditions for the circular economy from a business perspective. Together with companies and partners from the Circular Valley network, the study aims to identify key challenges, opportunities, and concrete fields of action for implementing a functioning circular economy.
Study seeks key focus areas and concrete starting points
The study will focus in particular on the perspectives of relevant industries and stakeholders along the value chains. Its objective is to identify priority topics and concrete starting points that are crucial for a successful transformation toward a circular economy.
The study builds on the dialogue that the Circular Valley Foundation has already initiated during the Circular Valley Convention with representatives from business, industry, academia, and politics. Key prerequisites for implementing the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS) were discussed there, including long-term investment and funding conditions, the development of regional circular systems, secure energy supplies, innovation-friendly regulation, and closer cooperation between business and policymakers.
“The transformation toward a circular economy will only succeed if we systematically incorporate the experiences, challenges, and innovation potential of companies,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. “With this study, we want to identify the specific framework conditions companies need in order to successfully implement and scale circular solutions.”
Results to be presented at the Circular Valley Forum on November 13, 2026
As part of the study, network partners and companies from various industries will be surveyed. The aim is to examine which industry-specific topics will become particularly relevant for the circular economy in the future and which measures should be prioritized from a business perspective.
“The circular economy is a key lever for competitiveness, resilience, and resource security,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt. “Especially in economically and geopolitically challenging times, close cooperation between business, academia, and policymakers is essential in order to develop viable solutions.”
The results of the study are scheduled to be presented at the Circular Valley Forum on November 13, 2026. The forum is the foundation’s established flagship event and has been bringing together leading stakeholders from business, academia, politics, and the startup ecosystem for several years. Together with the Circular Valley Convention, it forms the foundation’s central platform for dialogue on the transformation toward a circular economy.
With this study, the Circular Valley Foundation aims to make a further contribution to advancing the circular economy in Germany and Europe in a practical way and to provide concrete momentum for implementing circular value creation.
