Nordic Circular Economy 2020
Welcome to an interactive cross-border
— From Waste to Resource —
Epicenter, Amsterdam
15.00–19.00, February 3
On behalf of the Nordic Embassies, Nordic Chambers, European Commission in the Netherlands, and MissionC, we would like to thank everyone that joined the Nordic Circular Economy Summit 2020! Close to 200 people participated in this event and made it very special. To create a circular economy countries, companies, and individuals must join together and collaborate.
The next #NordicTalks will be held on October 8, 2020, this time about Sustainable Fashion and Food!
Please have a look at the slideshow with photos below from the NordicCE2020, captured by Hanne Hansen.
#NordicTalks 2020
From waste to resource – A report made by Jeroen van Kooten
All speakers from left to right: Sarah Nelen, Pär Larshans, Jon Christopher Knudsen, Morten Kramer Nielsen, Virpi Amoedo, Freek van Eijk, Harald Friedl, Marthe Haugland, Cathrine Barth and Andrea Orsag
3rd of feb 2020, the first day of the circular economy week. Today Frans Timmermans talked in Den Haag about the circular economy and at #nordictalks we took the talks to another level from several speakers from Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands about the latest developments within the circular economy.
We kicked off with Andrea Orsag who gave a chilling opening speech about how we, not just the nordic countries, need to work together on creating a circular economy. After the opening she sat down with Harald Friedl to talk about the circularity gap report. The biggest take-aways and the most shocking for me that we went from 9% circularity to 8.6%, which is the wrong direction. In the report it also details on which countries are shifting, building and growing. The most interesting take away from this overview is that Uruguay, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Romania are doing pretty good, with smaller impact per person and either building or shifting towards a more sustainable society. It is a very satisfying looking report and I would recommend going to https://www.circularity-gap.world/2020
Harald also told us about that he was working on creating a platform where you can easily find sustainable and circular fashion.
Next up on stage was Sarah Nelen Deputy Head of Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans at European Commission. She came to talk about the EU Green Deal, a goal that aims towards being emission neutral by 2050. “It is a growing strategy, and it’s not all roses. We have winners and losers, take for instance the coalminers, they will lose business.” The way that the EU will try and reach this goal is very interesting, they don’t have a clear path yet and she gave different scenarios as possibilities.
“Textiles are the new plastics” – Sarah Nelen
Sarah makes the comparison between plastics and textiles because of the ban on single use plastics and the way that plastics are being recycled more and more, the next big step will be textiles and the tons of waste it creates every year.
This plan is a Northstar to keep in mind, actually achieving this will be a huge achievement where governments, private sector and citizens need to work together towards a zero emission EU.
During a panel discussion with companies Ragn-Sells, ARC, Neste and Aker Solutions, they showed us the most recent projects and achievements. The CO2 neutral incineration power plant with a ski slope on the roof and collection of oil from food that can be turned into fuel were the biggest highlights of the conversation.
Pär Larshans called upon the audience for “collaboration between countries is needed, not just between governments but also with and between the public sector”
To keep it short and sweet there was a nice back and forth between the public and the speakers on stage. The Club of Rome called upon everybody to use one of two resources that are limitless: “There are two resources in the world that are limitless: imagination and stupidity, which resource are you going to use in the fight towards a circular economy?”
There was also someone who mentioned “Hedonistic Sustainability”. So where it becomes pleasurable to become or be sustainable instead of it being a fight for your life and a hassle to become sustainable. But more about that later.
What do you think? Is the EU gonna make it to become a zero emissions society by 2050? Is Trump finally gonna realize that climate change is real? And are we going to see more and more solutions that use “waste” from consumers to create durable fuels and products?
With the conference Nordic Circular Economy Summit 2020, From Waste to Resource, The Nordic Embassies together with the Nordic Chambers of Commerce in the Netherlands and the Representation in the Netherlands of the European Commission are very pleased to follow-up the successful CE Summit 2019.
Circular Economy: From Waste to Resources
In this Summit, we aim to bring Nordic corporates, researchers, governments and other stakeholders together with Dutch counterparts. The Nordic countries and The Netherlands are all in the forefront when it comes to technical solutions and innovations towards circularity. To promote our respective high and ambitious national targets for green, circular solutions we need to work together and share our innovation and solutions as well as listening to the experts and companies with experience of working circular.
The Circularity Report 2020 will be discussed at the #NordicCE2020 by Harald Friedl – Circle Economy
The European Parliament welcomes the European Green Deal!
The European Parliament supports the European Green Deal but highlights challenges, including ensuring a just and inclusive transition and the need for high interim targets. Parliament adopted January 15th its position on the European Green Deal, unveiled by Commission President von der Leyen in a plenary debate in December.
Speakers
Sarah Nelen
Deputy Head of Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans
European commission
Sarah Nelen is Deputy Head of Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans responsible for the Green Deal, the EU’s growth strategy to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Sarah has almost 20-year experience in European policy making, mainly in the areas of sustainability and justice and home affairs. Before joining this Cabinet, she was Head of Unit in the European Commission’s Environment Department where she was responsible for waste management & secondary materials and negotiated the EU’s single use plastic legislation. She already worked for Frans Timmermans before, advising him on the circular economy, sustainable development and gender equality. From 2010 to 2014, she worked in the team of the first President of the European Council, Mr Herman Van Rompuy. Before joining the European Commission in 2001, she was a researcher at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven where she obtained previously a Masters in Political Science. She also studied at the Facultés Universitaires Saint Louis in Brussels, the University of Leicester and she is a College of Europe alumnus.
Pär Larshans
Head of Sustainability & Public Affairs
Ragn-Sells Recycling AB
Award winner in communication, social sustainability and intrapreneurship. In 2013 and 2014 the Trust Across America listed Larshans as one of TOP 100 Thought Leaders global ranking. In 2013 given the Swedish award – intrapreneur of year. Same year also given the “Visa vägen ” award from Samhall but already in 2009 receiver of the Green award in London for sustainability communication, international category for “putting the carbon on the menu” (company award). Since 2007 requested as international speaker on: leadership, inspiration for change, sustainability and circular economy.
”A circular economy is about collaboration, if you try to win by yourself, you will definitely lose.” /Pär Larshans. Gdansk Polen April 2019
Jon Christopher Knudsen
Vice President
Aker Solutions
Jon Christopher Knudsen is Vice President in Aker Solutions and leads business development in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). With nearly 20 years in the oil and energy sector, Knudsen has held several leadership positions in digitalization, customer experience, strategy and HR in the Aker Solutions group. Knudsen joined Aker Solutions after many years in the international consulting company Accenture, where he focused on technology solutions for business insights in oil and energy companies. He is a business economist graduating from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in Norway and the College of William & Mary, Virginia (US)
Morten Kramer Nielsen
Head of Communication
ARC – Amager Resource center
As Head of Communication since 2014 Morten Kramer Nielsen has been responsible for the external and internal communication on the new waste to energy plant, Amager Bakke/Copenhill. In addition Morten Kramer Nielsen is engaged in initiatives and communication towards a more sustainable waste management as ARC also operates 10 local recycling stations in the Copenhagen area.
Virpi Amoedo
Head of Supply Development, Renewable Products
Neste
Freek van Eijk
Managing Director
Holland Circular Hotspot
Freek van Eijk works with the HCH-team to create and strengthen Circular Economy (CE) export and investment opportunities for the Dutch business community and stimulate international exchange of CE knowledge and innovation.
Harald Friedl
Circular Activist
advisor Circle Economy
Harald has a keen focus on the social aspects of the circular economy, and we believe his experience working with governments and businesses around the world will support Circle Economy in its efforts to scale and internationalize. The sky’s the limit! — Robert Jan van Ogtrop, Founder of Circle Economy
Marthe Haugland
Senior Innovation Advisor
Nordic Innovation
Marthe Haugland is working as a Senior Innovation Advisor at Nordic Innovation. Her primary focus is on the transition to circular economy in the Nordics, through initiating projects that can spur innovation and entrepreneurship in Nordic companies. The main areas are circular cities, new solutions and the use of circular business models. Nordic Innovation is part of the Nordic Council of Ministers, who’s vision is that the Nordics should be the most integrated and sustainable region in the world in 2030.
Cathrine Barth
Co Founder
CircularNorway
Representing
Nordic Circular Hotspot
Cathrine holds a master degree from BI Norwegian Business School in Strategic Business Development and Innovation. She is having experience in innovation systems, sustainability and the field of business design thinking. Cathrine was strategy advisor in design, innovation and communication in Halogen and Itera Gazette, leading Nordic companies before she founded Circular Norway.
Andrea Orsag
Transition to Circular Economy | Sustainability | Consultant & Speaker | OYW Ambassador
Founder at MissionC
Andrea sees sustainability as a value that has to be at the core of everything we do, Circular Economy being the driver and mitigation strategy to climate change. Consultant with 10+ years of experience combining risk management, strategy and change management cross-industry, both for the commercial sector and not-for-profit organizations internationally. She is an energetic advocate of collaboration, explorer and visionary connector. She has led insights into the sustainability strategies of leading companies, engagement projects and acted as a trainer on various topics. Her specialties include sustainability risk and public speaking.
The Venue
Epicenter is located in the heart of Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, and in Amsterdam. Members of the Epicenter community, who are entrepreneurs, fast growing digital companies and creative corporate initiatives, meet to collaborate, learn and grow their businesses.
Address
Epicenter Amsterdam
Fred. Roeskestraat 115
1076 EE Amsterdam
The concept and development of Epicenter rises from the founding team’s extensive knowledge in bringing up companies that are digitally innovative, and increasingly impactful. In order to achieve your growth and to make innovation happen faster, you need the right partners, tools and methods. This is where we come in. Epicenter was founded in 2015 by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs.
Previous #NordicTalks
Find here more information about previous events.
#NordicTalks2019
Artificial Intelligence
#NordicTalks2019
Circular Economy
#NordicTalks2018
Diversity
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