Research symposium on Cradle to Cradle and the circular economy
March 12 and 13, 2025
The event will be held in English.
About
The Research Symposium on Cradle to Cradle and Circular Economy is a side event of the 9th
International Cradle to Cradle Congress at TU Berlin. For the second time in a row, we will be discussing current research on C2C before the official congress program.
Our goal is to facilitate an exchange among experts on the current state of research in the areas of Cradle to Cradle and circular economy. The event provides participants with insights into current research projects.
Participate
You do not have to hand in an abstract to participate. Join the Research Symposium on Cradle to Cradle and Circular Economy in the audience by filling out the form. Participation is for free.
Confirmed speakers
Professor, Leuphana University of Lüneburg; Managing Director Braungart EPEA - International Environmental Research
Program
The event will be held in English.
Wednesday, 12.03.2025
Nora Sophie Griefahn | Managing Director, C2C NGO
Prof Dr Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufsess | Head of the
Department of Strategic Leadership and Global
Management, TU Berlin
Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart | Professor & Managing Director, Leuphana University of Lüneburg & Braungart EPEA – International Environmental Research
Project Pitch Session 1
Hannes Geist | Department of Sustainable Systems
Engineering (INATECH), University of Freiburg
Charleen von Kolpinski | TU Berlin
Patrick M. Frey | Institute for Integrated Quality Design
(IQD), Johannes Kepler University
Hannes Geist | Department of Sustainable
Systems Engineering (INATECH)
Frank Balle | University of Freiburg
Charleen von Kolpinski | TU Berlin
Prof. Dr. Enrico Cagno
Dr. Alessandra Neri
1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Patrick Frey, Julia Schmitt, Erik Hansen, Johannes Kepler | University – Institute for Integrated Quality Design (IQD)
Project Pitch Session 2
Robin Kabelitz-Bock | Kuehne Logistics University
Katja Hansen |Research Fellow TUM
Vytaute Dlugoborskyte | ISM University of Management and Economics
Kathrin Theilig | TU Munich
2:50 - 3:05 p.m.
Robin Kabelitz-Bock | Kühne Logistics University
Katja Hansen | Research Fellow TUM
Vytaute Dlugoborskyte | ISM University of Management and Economics
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svenja Damberg
Prof. Dr. Ilona Buciuniene
Kathrin Theilig, Michael Vollmer, Werner Lang | TU Munich
Kathrin Theilig, Iryna Takser, Fatma Deghim, Werner Lang | TU Munich
Annika Herdan, Katharina Kleinschrot, Andreas Ehrlich | TU Dresden/Institute of Construction Management
Clara Heil | Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB)
of Niederrhein University; et al.
Project Pitch Session 3
Annika Herdan | Institute of Construction Management, TU Dresden
Clara Heil | Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB), Niederrhein University
Melina Lindek | University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein
Melina Lindek, Miriam Sari | Hochschule Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences
Caroline Ganglo, Stefan Karlowsky | IGZEV
Ken Webster | Fellow at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership (CISL)
Nora Sophie Griefahn | Managing Director, C2C NGO
Prof Dr Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufsess | Head of the
Department of Strategic Leadership and Global
Management, TU Berlin
subject to change.
Thursday, 13.03.2025
Nora Sophie Griefahn | Managing Director, C2C NGO
Prof Dr Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufsess | Head of the
Department of Strategic Leadership and Global
Management, TU Berlin
Roundtable 1: Cradle to Cradle and Business
Senior: Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufseß
Senior: Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufseß
Priya Saikumar | University of Oxford
Renato Bici | TU Berlin
BoRui Chen | TU Berlin
Roundtable 2: Cradle to Cradle, Business & Product Design
Senior: Erik Hansen
Senior: Erik Hansen
Felix Sittner | Felix Sittner Product Design
Luna Sonia Sagasser | Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
Florian Jäger | TU Berlin
Roundtable 3: Development of Teaching Tools
Senior: Prof. Cornelius Herstatt
Senior: Prof. Cornelius Herstatt
Ian Tauchnitz and Duong Dao | Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
Johanna Schober | TU Dresden
Dr. Prof. Daniel Michelis | Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
10:40 - 11:20 a.m.
11:20 - 11:50 a.m.
Prof Cornelius Herstatt | Head of the Institute for
Technology and Innovation Management, TU Hamburg-
Harburg (TUHH)
Nora Sophie Griefahn | Managing Director, C2C NGO
Prof Dr Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufsess | Head of the
Department of Strategic Leadership and Global
Management, TU Berlin
subject to change.
Location
Technische Universität Berlin
Main building
Straße des 17. Juni 135
10623 Berlin
Contact
For any questions, please contact:
Lara Gabe, Project Management
E-mail: symposium[at]c2c.ngo
Phone: (0)30 4677 4780
Spread the word!
Download our printable poster to share the Call for Abstracts at your university, college or institute.
Call for Abstracts
In a world facing resource depletion, waste, and environmental degradation, Cradle to Cradle (C2C) offers a transformative solution for sustainable production, consumption, and business models. The Research Symposium on Cradle to Cradle and Circular Economy will explore how innovation, systems thinking, and design can create products and processes that align with regenerative cycles – where waste becomes a resource and human impact is positive by design.
We invite recent research contributions focused on concepts, technologies, and practical applications driving the transition from linear to circular systems. From material science and product design to industrial systems and policy, this symposium aims to promote the scientific discussion about C2C.
The Call for Abstracts is aimed at:
- Researchers who want to share new findings and innovations
- Bachelor’s and Master’s students who want to present their work
We are looking forward to submissions that address Cradle to Cradle from different perspectives.
Important dates
- Abstract Submission Deadline: December 31, 2024
- Acceptance Notification: End of January 2025
- Revisions and final submission: February 2025
- Conference Dates: March 12 and and 13, 2025
Key topics of interest
We welcome submissions on a range of topics related to Cradle to Cradle, including but not limited to:
- Materials and product design
- Circular economy models, business models and applications
- Industrial ecology and systems thinking
- Innovative recycling and upcycling technologies
- Policy and economic strategies for circularity
More information
We invite you to submit your current work in the following topics of interest, but not limited to:
- Material Science and Chemistry:
- Material health: Investigation of safe, non-toxic materials that are harmless to both humans and the environment.
- Biological and Technical Nutrients: Research on separating materials into biodegradable substances and those that can be kept in technical cycles.
- Design and Product Development:
- Design for Disassembly: Development of products that can be easily disassembled at the end of their life cycle to return materials back into the circular flow.
- Upcycling design: Focus on designing products that gain value during recycling or through subsequent use phases.
- Circular Economy and Economic Models:
- Closed-loop Systems: Research on models in which products and materials are reused or fully returned into biological or technical cycles after use.
- Economic Incentive Systems: Development of models that encourage companies to integrate regenerative processes into their production.
- Production Processes and Industrial Ecology:
- Circular Production Methods: Development of technologies that avoid waste and fully return raw materials into the production process.
- Industrial Symbioses: Research on networks where one company’s waste becomes a resource for another.
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Impact:
- Life Cycle Assessment: Examination of the environmental impacts of products throughout their entire life cycle to ensure they have positive environmental effects.
- Urban Planning and Architecture:
- Cradle to Cradle Building Design: Development of buildings made from healthy materials that are fully dismantlable and can be reintroduced into biological or technical cycles.
- Circular Urban Planning: Research on urban systems that avoid waste and maintain resources in a circular flow.
- Water and Energy Management:
- Renewable Energy Systems: Use of renewable energy in Cradle to Cradle production systems.
- Water Cycles: Utilization of water in closed-loop systems to ensure sustainable water use.
- Social and Political Aspects:
- Policy and Regulation: Investigation of policies that require or encourage companies to adopt Cradle to Cradle principles.
- Education and Awareness: Research on spreading knowledge about Cradle to Cradle in society and education systems.
Contributions on related topics are also welcome.
Submission Guidelines
Please follow the submission guidelines below:
- Abstract Length: 2 pages, max. 1000 words, excl. References
- Format: PDF document
- Language: English
Submission Process
To submit, please fill out the submission form and upload your abstract.
The closing date for entries was December 2024
Review process
We accept two types of abstracts:
- Research articles aimed at a journal publication
- Bachelor’s and Master’s theses on the topic
All submitted abstracts will undergo a review. Reviewers will assess submissions based on the following criteria:
-
- Connection to Cradle to Cradle
- Scientific relevance
Presentation
Accepted abstracts will be presented at the research symposium. Presented abstracts will not be published as part of the symposium.
Bachelor’s and Master’s theses: Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their work in a roundtable and a poster session. The abstracts are read in advance by the other participants in the discussion group.
