The debut of the Circular Valley Convention (CVC) was a resounding suc-cess. Organized by Messe Düsseldorf in cooperation with the Circular Valley Foundation and with scientific support from the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT), the event took place on March 12 and 13 in Düsseldorf, combining a high-profile international conference across three stages with a practice-oriented expo featuring over 100 exhibitors. Among the more than 200 top speakers were Prof. Dr. Holger Hanselka (President, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft), Ulrike Sapiro (Chief Sustainability Officer, Henkel AG), Katja Busch (CCO, DHL Group), and Jörg Deppmeyer (CEO, Der Grüne Punkt). In addition, premium events such as the Circular Night and the Circular Valley Demo Day provided invaluable personal exchange and networking opportunities.
Despite adverse circumstances, including public transport and various airport strikes, the first Circular Valley Convention captivated the circular economy community. The presence of a large number of top decision-makers and the positive feedback from participants underscores the event's role as a leading content hub for the circular economy.
“With the Circular Valley Convention, we have created a central platform that provides crucial cross-industry momentum for the transformation toward a circular economy,” summarizes Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “The strong interest from participants, the diversity of solutions presented, and the high quality of discussions demonstrate that the topic has firmly taken root in the industry. At the same time, we have successfully added another high-impact event to our portfolio. The CVC perfectly com-plements our leading global trade fairs K, drupa, interpack, and glasstec, which already serve as key platforms for circular economy and sustainable developments in their respective industries.”
Professor Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, adds: “The Circular Valley Convention 2025 is an excellent opportunity to bring Fraunhofer solutions from applied research and development into the market. The mix of established companies, start-ups, and research institutions in the circular economy creates the ideal environment to discuss topics such as the potential of chemical recycling, bio-based plastics, and material cycles in the construction sector. At our exhibition stands and on the stages, there is a lively exchange on these topics. I would be pleased if the first CVC 2025 marked the beginning of a strong traditionso we can continue to shape the transition to a circular economy together with the participants."
Circular Economy: Global Challenge and Opportunity
The transition to a circular economy is one of the pressing challenges of our time-and also one of the greatest economic opportunities. The Circular Valley Convention 2025 made this clear. At Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf, speakers, partners, and exhibitors showcased pioneering circular solutions, visionary strategies, and innovative approaches.
“The CVC stands for a holistic, cross-industry and cross-material approach. Our goal is to drive the circular economy forward on a global scale-something that can only be achieved through collaboration of all players across all value chains,” explains Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. “That is why we have brought together global decision-makers from companies such as Fraunhofer, SAP, Canon, Sigfried Jacob Metallwerke, and Der Grüne Punkt, as well as start-ups, research institutions, and policymakers. The aim is to foster partnerships, develop sustainable business models, and implement practical solutions.”
Key topics included circular design, sustainable materials, digital innova-tions, circular business models, and new recycling technologies. The event featured not only the latest scientific findings but also market-ready solutions that are already available for implementation and scaling.
Collaboration as the Key to Transformation
The Circular Valley Convention highlighted the crucial role of international cooperation in establishing a functioning circular economy. The Expo show-cased a broad spectrum of circular solutions-from established global market leaders and medium-d hidden champions to visionary start-ups driv-ing the circular economy forward with disruptive technologies and new business models.
Science Meets Business
Bridging science and business was a central focus of the Circular Valley Convention. The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) provided scientific support for the event, present-ing the latest research findings and practical solutions.
In addition to scientific insights, the expo showed real-world applications-from bio-based materials and resource-efficient production methods to digital tools for a functioning circular economy.
The next Circular Valley Convention will take place from March 11 to 12, 2026.
