Conference: Circular Economy Hub Slovenia 2025

In 2025, Slovenia will host a conference in a series of circular hub conferences designed to bring together planners and implementers of circular economy measures.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first Circular Economy Conference in Slovenia. It is also 10 years since the first EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy was adopted. It was created based on the recognition that the material aspect is an important lever for achieving climate, environmental, and biodiversity goals. Reducing the consumption of primary resources, designing products from secondary sources, introducing circular business models, and circular consumption are just some of the many circular economy measures that can be used to effectively respond to the challenges of excessive resource consumption.

Five years ago, the EU adopted a new action plan for the circular economy with the telling title “Towards a cleaner and more competitive Europe.” Its aim is to promote the production of sustainable products that can be used for a long time and to enable citizens to participate fully in the circular economy and the positive changes it brings.

However, success in this area will require considerable effort, as the consumption of material resources already exceeds the capacity of our planet. Estimates show that by 2050, human consumption will have grown to such an extent that we would need three Earths to sustain it.

Implementing circular principles is an economically and socially challenging task that requires a systemic approach, as the levers for action need to be coordinated in all areas of our activities and lives.

With this in mind, the conference aims to contribute to greater awareness and better progress of the circular economy. Above all, it seeks to answer the questions: where are we, what can we do, and how can we do it?

We will consider the circular economy as the foundation for greater competitiveness and resilience of the EU and Slovenia, as well as the supply and demand system.

Conference organization

The Ministry of the Environment, Climate, and Energy, in cooperation with SRIP Circular Economy and Circular Change, has successfully applied to host a conference on the circular economy as an annual event in the series of Circular Economy Hotspots conferences.

The conference is organized by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate, and Energy and the Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Sport in cooperation with the Slovenian Center for Circular Economy.

The conference program committee consists of: Uroš Vajgl, Ministry of the Environment, Climate, and Energy, chair; Dr. Janez Potočnik, UN International Resource Panel; Nina Meglič, ReCatalyst; Anna Brussa, Climate KIC; Jaka Kranjc, Ecologists Without Borders; Marija Čebular Zajec, Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport; Mireia Cannellas Grifoll, Ministry of Territory, Construction and Green Transition, Catalonia.

The plenary part of the conference will be held in Slovenian and English. Interpretation from English into Slovenian and vice versa will be provided. Parallel sessions will be held in English.

Who is the conference intended for?

The conference is intended for companies from various industries, universities and faculties, students, research institutions, ministries, public economic services, participants in waste management schemes, municipalities, regional development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the media, as operating according to the principles of the circular economy concerns companies, research, professional, and innovative institutions, ministries, local communities, and individuals.

How will the conference achieve its purpose?

The conference will bring together circular economy policymakers at the EU level and in Slovenia, designers of support systems, and implementers of circular practices in the field.

Good business practices and current developments in the field of circular innovation will be presented, and there will also be a discussion on the role of decision-makers who shape support systems and programs to overcome barriers to the circular economy. We will also talk about how the circular economy can contribute to social resilience and what role local communities, businesses, and young people play in this. We will also discuss tools for strengthening circular supply and demand.

Conference participants will also be able to learn about and experience good circular economy practices on site.

There will be plenty of opportunities for networking and exchanging opinions and experiences among conference participants and with participating discussants and speakers.

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