Programm 2026
The programm on the Audimax main stage will be recorded. In addition, the formats on the Audimax main stage will be translated into German (English > German) or into English (German > English).
Thursday, 17.09.2026
C2C Congress
Katja Hansen I Research Fellow TUM, Beirätin C2C NGO
Content
This introductory workshop in German presents the fundamental principles of the Cradle to Cradle design concept. Today, most products are still not designed to be good for—or healthy for—people and the environment while also being economically viable. When such products enter material cycles, the result is downcycling, loss of quality, and often negative impacts on people and the environment. The Cradle to Cradle Design Framework offers a conceptual framework for putting the positive approach of a beneficial footprint into practice. Using examples, we show that it can be done.
MA041 Workshop German
Please register via the link provided
Sonja Gehrig I Koordinatorin Kreislaufwirtschaft und nachhaltige Beschaffung, Stadt Zürrich
Inhalt
Gute Beispiele aus der Stadt Zürich zeigen, wie innovative, zirkuläre Beschaffung gelingen kann. Was ist eine Innovationslücke (Innovation Gap) und wie können wir diese überwinden? Welche Rolle spielt dabei die öffentliche Hand, und wie können wir mithilfe von Kreislaufwirtschaftsansätzen Innovationen von Unternehmen in der Beschaffung fordern und fördern? Es werden verschiedene Ansätze zur Nachfrage nach Innovationen in der öffentlichen Beschaffung gezeigt und mit Beispielen aus unterschiedlichen Warengruppen konkretisiert. Und diese sind nicht immer kompliziert: Im Fokus steht das clevere Einkaufen und aktive Mitdenken. So können Kreislaufwirtschaftsansätze beispielsweise zu einem verbesserten Produktdesign eines Produkts beitragen – oft ein Gewinn für die Umwelt und für den Geldbeutel. In einem Workshop-Teil lernen die Teilnehmenden selbst, Ansätze zur innovativen, zirkulären Beschaffung zu erkennen. Der Workshop richtet sich an Einkaufsverantwortliche oder (Umwelt-)Fachleute aus Verwaltung und Politik, die sich mit öffentlicher Beschaffung befassen.
MA141Workshop German
Daniel Mendes Jenner I Co-Founder YOUNG forum
Content
At Young Forum, we don’t just bring the biggest talents to events. We also help people get the most out of every event they attend. To that end, co-founder Daniel is sharing his best tips from over 200 events. You’ll also work together with the group to identify your own personal networking and success formula for the C2C Congress!
MA143Workshop German
Please register via the link provided
Nora Sophie Griefahn I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Tim Janßen I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Moderation
Nina Eichinger | Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Main Stage HE101 German > English
Prof. Dr. Fatma Deniz | President, Technical University of Berlin
Main Stage HE101 German > English
Bettina Hagedorn | Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for the Environment
Main Stage HE101 German > English
Dr. Michael Schmidt-Salomon | Philosopher/Author, Spokesperson of the Board of the Giordano Bruno Foundation & Advisory Board Member C2C NGO
Content
The future is no longer what it once was. Many now expect nothing but human-made catastrophes. And yet, we don’t need to reduce humanity’s influence on the Earth’s system. We simply need to shape it more intelligently.
KeynoteMain Stage HE101 German > English
Jan Ceyssens | Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall, European Commission
Content
Ahead of the publication of the Circular Economy Act, Jan Ceyssens shares insights into the development process and examines how C2C and circular design fit into present and future EU regulations.
KeynoteMain Stage HE101 English > German
Smail Al Hilali | Director, Division of Circular Economy & Green Industry, UNIDO
Jan Ceyssens | Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall, European Commission
Nora Sophie Griefahn I Executive Director, C2C NGO
I.E. Yadir Salazar-Mejía | Embassador of the Republic of Colombia in Germany
Moderation
Nina Eichinger | Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Content
How can global cooperation build true systemic resilience? Representatives from UNIDO, the European Commission, and the Embassy of Colombia discuss what equitable partnership looks like in practice: How do we transition from traditional linear supply chains toward sustainable, fair value networks? Discover what policymakers, industry leaders, and resource-rich nations need to drive this shared transformation.
Panel Main Stage HE101 English > German
Tanja Pahlke | Key Account & Project Leadership Germany & Austria, Iris Ceramica Group
Content
For over 50 years, the Iris Ceramica Group has demonstrated that economic success and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive, but rather the foundation of a sustainable industry. Find out how C2C innovation, circular thinking and corporate responsibility have been shaped together for decades.
C2C Impulse Main Stage HE101 German > English
2:35 - 2:50 p.m.
Michael Buck | Head of C2C-Circular-Economy Procurement EU, WBG-Pooling
Ward Scheelen | Public Affairs Manager, Runden Group
Content
The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) makes the circular economy mandatory. The panel discusses how Cradle to Cradle helps companies translate requirements around material health, recyclability, recycled content, and reusable systems into practice.
C2C Impulse Main Stage HE101German > English
2:50 - 3:05 p.m.
Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart | Professor emeritus & CEO, Leuphana University Lüneburg & Braungart EPEA
Content
What happens to a car at the end of use? Unless it’s shipped off to Eastern Europe or Africa, it ends up at the scrapyard. There, it’s dismantled, and its high-quality components are exported to China, where they’re downcycled. High-grade automotive steel and precious non-ferrous metals become cheap rebar. Why, though? Shouldn’t we be keeping these raw materials in our own country instead? A car has never once been turned back into a car! What if we used this oversight as an opportunity right now, giving Germany’s ailing automotive industry a new business model built on the Cradle to Cradle principle? This talk by Michael Braungart draws on the findings of a study that Braungart EPEA conducted over the past several months together with automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen, funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation. It aims to broaden the debate on the mobility of tomorrow by finally shifting the focus onto materials, after years of debate centered solely on the powertrain.
Keynote Main Stage HE101German > English
4:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Meike Al-Habash | Head of the Zero Waste Agency, BSR
Constance Arndt | Mayor of the City of Zwickau, Member of the Executive Committee of the Association of German Cities
Robert Marlow | President of the Architektenkammer Niedersachsen
Frank Wolters | CEO, Berlin TXL Management
Moderation
Nina Eichinger | Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Content
How do we turn regions into thriving circular ecosystems? Featuring concrete best practices, this panel demonstrates how much is already possible on the local and regional levels. The discussion focuses on cross-sector collaboration between business, policymakers, and local stakeholders: What political backing and regulatory frameworks are needed to scale regional initiatives effectively? Join us to explore how to drive true regional transformation through C2C.
Panel Main Stage HE101German > English
4:30 - 4:45 p.m.
Daniel Sieberer | CEO & Owner, GIWA Kunststofftechnik
Content
While many plastics are technically recyclable, they are rarely kept in closed loops due to a perceived lack of profitability. Mid-sized manufacturer GIWA proves otherwise, demonstrating field-tested strategies to make circular plastic processing both economically viable and sustainable.
C2C Impulse Main Stage HE101 German > English
4:45 - 5:05 p.m.
Uwe Amrhein | Foundation Manager, Röchling Stiftung
Nora Sophie Griefahn I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Tim Janßen I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Alexander Meyer zum Felde | Partner and Director, Global Lead Circular Economy, Boston Consulting Group
Dr. Alexandra Schmied | Senior Project Manager, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Content
The Cradle to Cradle Electronics Initiative unites trailblazers across the entire value chain to design electronics for circularity from the ground up. A cross-sector collaboration driving non-toxic, durable, and fully recyclable technology.
C2C Impulse Main Stage HE101 German > English
Dr. Lennart Osthoff | CEO, Repartly
Content
Repartly simplifies access to electronics repairs, refurbished parts, and qualified technicians through a centralized platform. This approach turns hardware maintenance into a practical, cost-effective alternative to buying new.
C2C Impulse Main Stage HE101English>German
Nora Sophie Griefahn I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Prof. Dr. Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufseß | Head of the Department of Strategic Leadership and Global Management, Technical University of Berlin
Students | Technical University of Berlin
Content
Fresh impulses from research: Elian Meyer, Noah Ziegler, Mais Bakey, Bianca Poblador, Sophie Boyle, Aine Droese, Linnea Johansson, and Elena Solvang, students at TU Berlin, present innovative C2C solution approaches for a future-proof electronics industry. In this way, scientific analysis and circular design principles go hand in hand to reshape the tech industry.
Impulse Main Stage HE101 English > German
Elwyn Grainger-Jones | Executive Director, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Content
Algorithms and AI assistants increasingly dictate product visibility in search and procurement. This C2C Impulse explores how verified C2C certification data integrates into digital product passports, databases, and AI systems to make trusted sustainability information actionable at the point of decision.
C2C Impulse Main Stage HE101 English > German
Nora Sophie Griefahn | Executive Director, C2C NGO
Katja Hansen | Research Fellow TUM, Author, Member of the Advisory Board C2C NGO
Antje vom Berg | Project Manager Insights, E.ON Foundation
Content
We discuss one of the most pressing questions of the transition: A truly circular economy needs energy systems that don’t just achieve climate neutrality — they need to have a positive impact. Drawing on the report Energy & Cradle to Cradle, the panel explores whether and how renewable energy and C2C design principles must be thought together: from circular infrastructure to systems that unlock new business opportunities that give more back to nature than they take.
C2C Impuls Main Stage HE101 German > English
Rolf Verspuij | CEO, Koninklijke Ahrend
C2C Impuls Main Stage HE101 English>German
Domitila Barros | Activist and speaker of Gesellschaft der Europäischen Akademien e.V.
Nina Eichinger | Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Nora Sophie Griefahn I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Tim Janßen I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Main Stage HE101 German > English
Main Stage HE101 English > German
Content
A fashion show featuring C2C-Certified® or C2C-inspired garments from Bonprix, Roccamore, Mela, Socklab, and Pacific Jeans (a C&A supplier), accompanied by brief onstage conversations.
Brands
Roccamore I Signe Marie Bakka Backhaus, Director of Design & Product Development
MELA I Henning Siedentopp, Gesellschafter mela wear
Bonprix | Sabrina Krieg, Team Lead Sustainable Products
Bonprix | Cora Gehrmann, Head Of Sustainable Product & Quality
Socklab | Pascal A.H. Betten, Managing Director
Pacific Jeans | Nienke Steen, Director Consumer Products & Textiles, Products Innovation Institute, Representing Pacific Jeans
Friday, 18.09.2026
Nora Sophie Griefahn I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Tim Janßen I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Moderation
Nina Eichinger | Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Main Stage HE101 German > English
Merijn Everaarts I Founder, Dopper
Dr. Hermann Heipieper | Head of Research Group, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH – UFZ, Leipzig
Moderation
Nina Eichinger I Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Content
Science meets circular design: Prof. Hermann Heipieper (FINEST) and Dopper founder Merijn Everaarts discuss the realities of microplastics and show how C2C design transforms a major environmental challenge into a viable product solution.
Panel Main Stage HE101 English > German
Verena Bentele | President of the Social Association VdK Germany
Moderation
Tim Janßen I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Content
How can the circular transition become a win for society as a whole? This keynote sheds light on the often-overlooked social dimension of circularity and explores the potential of safe, toxin-free material cycles to advance social justice.
Keynote Main Stage HE101 German > English
Claudia Frese | CEO, Momox
Burcu Gözet | Co-Head of the Circular Systems Research Division, Wuppertal Institute
Dr. Matthias Miersch | Chairman, SPD parliamentary group
Martin Ulke | Head of Circular Solutions, Interzero
Moderation:
Caspar Dohmen | Chief Editor ESG.Table, TableMedia
Content
How can the goals of the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS) be translated into real-world market practices? This panel examines upcoming political measures, what pioneering businesses require in terms of reliable frameworks, and how a just transition can safeguard the social dimension of the circular economy.
Panel Main Stage HE101 German > English
Cradle to Cradle in Commercial Construction: How to Scale Prototypes
Franck Grube | Project Lead Construction & Sustainability, dm-drogerie markt
Bastian Lankeit | Lead Products & Resources, Corporate Responsibility, Schwarz Corporate Affairs
Georg Reifferscheid | Senior Venture & Investment Architect – Climate Tech, REWE Group
Julia Vesenjak | Innovation and Sustainability Management, Ratisbona Handelsimmobilien
Moderation
Nina Eichinger | Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Content
Commercial real estate holds immense potential for creating true value through healthy materials, demountable designs, and forward-thinking planning that benefits both people and the environment while proving financially sound over their lifecycle. In this session, Ratisbona, dm, and Rewe Group share practical insights on how circular construction can scale from niche prototypes to mainstream industry standards.
Panel Main Stage HE101German >English
From Ink to Toilet Paper: C2C in Printing, Packaging, and Hygiene
Dr. Stefan Gräter | Director Group Sustainability, Wepa Hygieneprodukte
Ralf Lokay | Sustainable Transformation, D.O.G. Lokay Umweltdruckerei
Finn Naujoks | Lead Marketing & Product management, Bohlsener Mühle
Janni Toft Nielsen | CEO, KLS PurePrint
Markus Vögeli | Owner & CEO, Vögeli
Moderation
Katja Hansen | Research Fellow TUM, Author, Member of the Advisory Board C2C NGO
Content
From print processing to sanitary paper, true circularity hinges on the right chemical composition. This discussion highlights how C2C standards in printing and packaging eliminate environmental hurdles while opening up commercially viable market opportunities.
Pitch Breakout MA005English
Checking in with C2C: Circular Best Practices from the Hotel Industry
Verena Ferner | Group CR & Sustainability Manager, Motel One Group
Ben Förtsch | Sustainnovator & Owner, Hotel Luise Erlangen
Isabel Gomez | Member of the Managing Board, C2C NGO
Natascha Michaelsen | Senior Project Manager ESG/CSR, Leonardo Hotels
Moderation
Laura Griestop I Senior Manager Sustainable Business & Markets, WWF Germany
Content
Opening with core insights from the WWF report on reusable systems in hospitality—complemented by case studies from Motel One and Leonardo Hotels—this session addresses the path to circular tourism. Pioneer businesses then join a panel to discuss material health, key lessons learned, and the necessary frameworks to turn Circular Economy and C2C practices into standard industry operations.
PanelBreakout MA041German
When Design Meets Data: Will Data Bring C2C Certification into the Mainstream?
Cora Gehrmann | Head of Sustainable Product & Quality Management, bonprix
Rolf Verspuij | CEO, Koninklijke Ahrend
Dr. Jan Christoph von der Lancken | Managing Director, EPEA – Part of Drees & Sommer
Moderation
Elwyn Grainger-Jones | Executive Director, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Content
Join this interactive breakout with CEO Elwyn Grainger-Jones. He will interview companies and experts within the Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Program and explore, together with the audience, how the Cradle to Cradle Certification helps companies turn product performance into credible, comparable proof across material health, circularity, climate, water, and social fairness. As EU rules tighten and AI increasingly shapes product discovery, transparent verified product data is becoming essential for visibility, trust, and market access.
PanelBreakout MA042 English
Pitch Session: Next-Generation C2C Solutions
Louis Brutschin | COO, FUWA Biotech Europe
Dr. Estelle Clerc I CEO & Co-founder, CellX Biosolutions
Dr. Marcel Pietsch-Khalili I CEO, PNZ-Produkte
Moderation
Dominik Markward | Senior Advisor Strategic Partnerships, C2C NGO
Content
In this pitch session, next-generation innovators present C2C-inspired solutions designed to transform key industries. Pitches span from bacteria-based treatments for industrial chemical pollution and green chemistry applications to materials derived from fungal mycelium.
PanelBreakout MA043English & German
The True Cost of Cheap: Why We Need to Rethink Procurement
Christian Eichenberger | CEO, Rent Group
Lars Keller | Head of Central Procurement and Contracting, City of Ludwigsburg
Anita Lührs | Head of Division, Federal Ministry of the Interior
Silke Schmidt-Stegemann | Staff Member in the Division for the National Circular Economy Strategy & Resource Efficiency, Federal Ministry for the Environment
Christoph Waldmann | CEO & owner, Herbert Waldmann
Moderation
Juliane Thiele | Senior Advisor on Politics, Administration, and Society, C2C NGO
Content
Focusing solely on initial acquisition costs misses the financial potential of a full lifecycle approach. The case of the city of Ludwigsburg shows that C2C procurement delivers not only sustainability successes, but also long-term financial savings while serving as a driver for economic development that incentivizes companies to undergo future-proof transformations. Panelists from federal, local, and business sectors discuss key levers for broadly embedding C2C criteria, while questioning whether dogmatic approaches like “Buy European” are sufficient to strengthen the public sector’s circular evolution.
PanelMain Stage HE101German>English
From Voluntary Certification to Legal Mandate: How Standards and Regulation Drive C2C in Textiles
Dr. Olaf Deutschbein | Head of Berlin Office (ITPO), UNIDO
Julia Schneider | Member of the Bundestag, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
Nienke Steen | Director Consumer Products & Textiles, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Hein van Tuijl | Managing Director, EPEA Benelux
Moderation
Isabel Gomez | Member of the Managing Board, C2C NGO
Content
Scaling C2C across textile supply chains requires a combination of regulatory frameworks and trusted standards. This panel explores key levers for industry-wide adoption, examining measures ranging from legislative interventions—such as France’s advertising ban on fast fashion—to government initiatives like Grüner Knopf and international private labels like Bluesign and C2C Certified.
PanelBreakout MA005English
Resource Crisis Meets High Tech: Scaling C2C Electronics
Tim Janßen I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Dr. Matthias Koehler | Deputy Director General Raw Materials, Circular Economy, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Daniel Rauh | Chief Industrial Design Officer, Shift
Timur Sirman | CEO, Magnotherm
Diana Sukailo | Project Leader Circular Economy, Boston Consulting Group
Dr. Annette Winterl | Lead Consultant, EPEA – Part of Drees & Sommer
Moderation
Nicolas Heronymus | Editor ESG.Table (Circular Economy), TableMedia
Content
This session offers detailed insights into the Cradle to Cradle Electronics Initiative alongside core findings from the correspinding BCG study on the economic and ecological potential of C2C in electronics. Partners of the initiative then join a panel discussion to explore concrete pathways and levers for scaling C2C standards across the high-tech sector.
PanelBreakout MA041 German
From Pioneer Project to Community Hub: The Transformation of the C2C LAB
Felicitas Erfurt-Gordon | Managing Partner, Erfurt & Sohn
Helge Flöge | Director Application Technology & Sustainability Strategies, Glapor
Lilli Knodt | Senior Advisor Strategic Partnerships, C2C NGO
Mirko Schippers | Managing Director, Schippers & Söhne
Julia Sickermann | Owner, Gallonska Designagentur
Moderation
Dominik Markward | Senior Advisor Strategic Partnerships, C2C NGO
Content
Seven years after its inception, the C2C LAB has reinvented itself: In a second development phase, the pioneering space was put to the test and updated with the latest C2C innovations. In this panel, the team reflects on key takeaways, what proved easier this time around, which new challenges emerged, and their vision for the LAB’s future as a vibrant community hub.
PanelBreakout MA042 German
Design by Nature: How C2C Makes the Bioeconomy Truly Circular
Florian Augustin | Managing Director, Finizio
Christoph A. Meixner | CEO & Board of Directors, Triebwerk & Regenerative & Social Agriculture e.V.
Sanne van den Dungen | Director, Raddis Cotton
Moderation
Nora Sophie Griefahn I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Content
The bioeconomy encompasses far more than mere waste stream utilization, and the circular economy must be far more than just an industrial strategy. Against the backdrop of emerging EU initiatives like the Circular Economy Act, this panel examines the status quo of a truly circular bioeconomy. The discussion illustrates how we should integrate the agricultural sector from the ground up as an essential component of C2C concepts to create fully closed nutrient loops.
PanelBreakout MA043 German
Willem Stas | COO, Royal Mosa
Content
Mosa demonstrates how ceramic building materials are manufactured according to C2C criteria. This presentation offers insights into using pure raw materials, non-toxic formulations, and closed-loop systems in tile production.
C2C Impulse Main Stage HE101English > German
Julia Vesenjak | Innovation and Sustainability Management, Ratisbona Handelsimmobilien
Content
The Loop Market in Haimhausen, Bavaria, demonstrates how C2C principles can be applied to retail grocery stores. This best-practice session outlines the path from circular building design and non-toxic materials to closed-loop resource management in daily supermarket operations.
The impulse will be held in English.
C2C Impulse Main Stage HE101German > English
Sonja Gehrig | Coordinator Circular Economy and Sustainable Procurement, City of Zürich
Ladeja Godina Košir | Founder and Director / Chair, Circular Change / European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
Susanne Karcher | Co-founder & Executive Director, African Circular Economy Network
Sunny Lee | Founder, Carbon Circular Consulting & Board Member Asia Circular Economy Association
Dr. Simran Talwar | Program Lead & Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney
Moderation
Nina Eichinger | Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Content
Around the world, pioneering regions are demonstrating how the circular transformation can be driven forward at the local and regional levels. Using international best practices from Zurich, Slovenia as well as Africa, Asia, and Australia—ranging from regional strategies to industrial symbiosis—we will discuss their transferability via the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) and explore how science, policy, and business can scale circular solutions globally in the future.
Panel Main Stage HE101English > German
Anna Alex| Founder & Investor, Nala Earth
Content
The mood has shifted. Regulations are being rolled back, capital is walking out, and seven in ten companies are hiding their climate goals. Is this the end? No. It’s the hype cycle — and we’re standing at the bottom. Serial entrepreneur and investor Anna Alex makes the case for why this is actually the best news sustainability has had in a decade. What comes next won’t be driven by moral pressure or policy obligation — but by margin, capital, and real market return. Circularity that brings customers back. Efficiency that cuts costs. Clean energy that’s simply cheaper. Sustainability isn’t dead. It just grew up.
Keynote Main Stage HE101English>German
Domitila Barros | Activist and speaker of Gesellschaft der Europäischen Akademien e.V.
Nina Eichinger | Presenter, entrepreneur, advisory board member C2C NGO
Nora Sophie Griefahn I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Tim Janßen I Executive Director, C2C NGO
Main Stage HE101 German > English
We warmly invite you to join us for a relaxed evening at the rooftop bar of The Cloud One at Gedächtniskirche.
Let’s round off the day together and enjoy an informal get-together with guests, speakers, members of the Executive Board and Advisory Board, and our team — all in a relaxed atmosphere above the rooftops of Berlin.(Drinks and food will be at your own expense.)
Kantstraße 163–165e
Subject to change without notice.