Innovation Challenge “Meet the Circular Economy” on 8th of July, 2025, Aachen, Germany
"For the fourth time in a row, the public lecture series “Meet the Circular Economy” took place at RWTH Aachen University in the summer semester 2025, led by Sandra Venghaus (FZJ ICE-2/RWTH) in cooperation with Uli Schurr and supported by BioSC and BioökonomieREVIER.“ At the closing event of the lecture series, in the framework of an Innovation Challenge, the students will present solutions they have developed for current challenges faced by the participating companies.
Once again in this years` lecture series, a number of companies have provided insights into the challenges of developing and implementing circular and bio-based processes. Besides students and university members from all faculties, interested citizens were also invited to discuss innovative sustainability concepts in corporate and product development.
The ideas and products presented by ten participating companies covered a wide range of topics, for example:
- Dr. Wolf Klöckner introduced the sustainability strategy of Covestro with the core elements of renewable energy, recycling and alternative raw materials. The company has developed processes for recycling of polyurethane and for a bio-based production of aniline, which is currently in the scale-up phase to industrial scale.
- Wolfgang Köster and Carl-Luis Rieger presented the tissue paper manufacturer WEPA which is one of the few in this industry sector to use waste paper as raw material instead of wood, as well as alternative sources such as miscanthus more recently. With its own solar and wind parks the topic of sustainability is addressed throughout the entire production process.
- Marius Wenning presented the company Omnivore Recycling, which uses the black soldier fly to recycle food waste from supermarkets. This takes place decentrally in modular containers installed at farmers' premises. Farmers can feed the larvae to animals as a protein source and use the larval excrement as fertilizer. Three pilot plants are currently being planned in Germany.
- Dr. Raphaela Kell from regionale resilienz Aachen e.V. presented a project in which textiles are to be made from hemp. The project would be regional, as all production steps from hemp cultivation to textile production would be localized in Aachen. The project is still in the planning phase.
The lecture series is followed by an Innovation Challenge for the second time. All speakers have set tasks for the students that deal with current challenges being faced by their companies. On July 8, the student teams present their solutions and are evaluated by a jury. The event is open to the public; anyone interested is welcome to attend.
More information
Kontakt
Dr. Heike Baron
Scientific-administrative officer BioSC
- Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften (IBG)
- Pflanzenwissenschaften (IBG-2)
Raum 2015
Prof. Dr. Ingar Janzik
Wissenschaftlerin und Wissenschaftlich-administrative Koordination & Ausbildung
- Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften (IBG)
- Pflanzenwissenschaften (IBG-2)
Raum 312