On December 6, 2024, Reincarnate participated in the EU Circular Talks webinar titled “Bridging Local and European Networks: How Circular Hubs Can Drive Inclusive Regional Growth.” This event brought together over 60 participants, including circular economy experts, stakeholders, and organizations, to explore the role of circular hubs in fostering sustainable, inclusive regional growth.

The event opened with remarks from Anders Ladefoged of the European Economic and Social Committee and Freek van Eijk, Director at Holland Circular Hotspot, who emphasized the importance of building bridges between local initiatives and European frameworks to amplify the impact of circular economy efforts. The session was moderated by Luca Polidori, Secretary and Program Manager at CE-Hub.

The keynote panel featured a lineup of experts, each presenting insights drawn from their experiences across Europe:

Karin Huber-Heim, Executive Director of Circular Economy Forum Austria, highlighted Austria’s focus on aligning circular economy policies across regions. She shared examples of cross-regional regulatory initiatives that have successfully encouraged circular practices and enabled scalability.

Alisa Mick, Founder of MiXi in Helsinki, discussed the challenges and opportunities for circular start-ups. She provided practical insights into accessing funding and shared lessons on how to scale innovative local projects to broader European contexts.

Dina Padalkina, Founder and Chairwoman of Circular Berlin, centered her talk on community-driven approaches. She emphasized the importance of education, awareness campaigns, and fostering strong partnerships at the local level to advance circular economy principles.

Ingvild De Bondt, Project Leader for Circular Economy and Coordinator of De Keet in Aalst, Belgium, brought a practical perspective. She shared her experiences working with Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs), highlighting the challenges of collaboration and showcasing how inclusive partnerships can enhance the success of circular projects.

The interactive session featured a mix of live and pre-collected questions, gathered during registration and through real-time engagement. It also invited participants to collaborate on defining what constitutes a “circular hub.” These definitions were compiled and visually represented in a collaborative word cloud, providing a snapshot of diverse perspectives.

The event was a joint effort by leading organizations in the circular economy space, including Holland Circular Hotspot, Rediscovery Centre, SMEunited, Circular Flanders, Circular Change, The Interreg MED Green Growth Community, and Ecopreneur.eu, under the leadership of the ECESP.

While attending virtually, Reincarnate gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in advancing the circular economy. This aligns closely with our mission to develop technical and social solutions that extend the lifecycle of buildings, construction products, and materials, ensuring their suitability for reuse. By connecting with European networks and participating in discussions, Reincarnate continues to explore ways to integrate circular economy practices within the construction industry.

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