Timed to follow the release of the European Commission’s revised Circular Economy Package, which forms a key pillar of the Commission’s work programme for 2016 and which is expected to be released on 2 December 2015, this conference will enable stakeholders to debate and respond to the new proposals.

In an economic climate where European countries are burdened by global competition for an often unstable supply of resources, creating a new paradigm in which a sustainable European economy emerges is an urgent matter for debate.

To secure Europe’s competitiveness in the face of such challenges, the circular economy is seen in some quarters as a restorative solution, with the potential to eliminate waste and reduce carbon emissions through environmentally superior materials, products and processes, while at the same time driving green growth and jobs. However for some, the EU regulatory burden continues to handicap European companies faced with stiff global competition.

We are pleased to announce that Jyrki Katainen, Vice President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, European Commission will open and attend the conference.

Sessions will focus on:

• Bringing eco-design into the mainstream
• Creating a viable European market for secondary raw materials
• Preventing food waste across the supply chain 

The conference will also feature a case study session led by SMEs, emerging innovators and disruptors discussing to what extent the new circular economy package can drive disruption among traditional sectors, while boosting economic activity at the SME level.

If you would like further information, or are interested in becoming involved, please contact Rose Maloney on rose.maloney@forum-europe.com / +44 (0) 2920 783 070.

Details of the 2015 edition

We welcomed over 250 delegates to the 2015 European Circular Economy Conference with speakers including:

- Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

- Kaspars Gerhards, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development Latvia

- Carole Dieschbourg, Minister for the Environment, Luxembourg

- Kurt Vandenberghe, Director for Climate Action and Resource Efficiency, DG RTD, European Commission

- Trisa Thompson, VP, Corporate Responsibility, Dell

- Kestutis Sadauskas, Director for Green Economy, DG ENV, European Commission

- Joanna Drake, Director for SMEs and Entrepreneurship, DG GROW, European Commission

- Françoise Bonnet, Secretary General, ACR+

- Koen Coppenholle, Chief Executive, CEMBUREAU

- Jocelyn Blériot. Executive Officer - Communications & Policy Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation