The Rethinking Packaging: A Fresh Look on the Plastics Sector and Advanced Materials for Circular Business Models conference is happening on 28 October in Zadar — and we’re excited to share the official agenda!
Get ready for a day full of insights, innovation and inspiration:
✨ Policy updates on the OMNIBUS Package (CSRD, CS3D, EU Taxonomy)
🔬 Groundbreaking projects transforming waste into valuable materials
🎓 Master Classes on circular strategies and producer responsibility
🚀 The launch of the Circular Innovation Academy (CIA) – a new platform to advance circular skills and collaboration across Europe
📍 Hotel Kolovare, Zadar / Hybrid event
🕘 Tuesday, 28 October 2025
📄 Check the full agenda bellow!
Let’s rethink packaging — together for a circular future! 🌍♻️
Agenda
- Tuesday, 28th October 2025 | ■ Hotel Kolovare, Zadar, Croatia (Hybrid event)
10:00 – 10:30 Registration & Coffee
10:30 – 11:00 Welcome
- CCE Varaždin County Chamber, Croatia
- SMART CIRCUIT project – Ms Agnieszka Włodarczyk-Gębik, Krakow Technology Park, Poland
11:00 – 11:45 Supporting Policies
- Understanding the OMNIBUS Package: CSRD, CS3D, EU Taxonomy (online)
Mr Bravo Navarro Carlos, European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), Belgium - How Living Labs address sustainability challenges (online)
Ms Martina Desole, European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), Director, Belgium
11:45 – 12:45 From Challenge to Success: Innovative Projects in Circular Plastics and Advanced Materials
- Circular by nature: Transforming agro – waste into biodegradable products
Ms Vesna Žepič Bogataj Ph.D, TECOS, Slovenia - A possible contribution of microsystem technology in packaging (online),
Ms Kerstin Gläser PhD, Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V., Germany - Turning beer by-products into biodegradable plastics: The BeSoGreat path to circular manufacturing (online), Ms Chiara Callegari, COMET Cluster, Italia
- Turning plastic waste into designer panels: Success through sustainability (online)
Mr Ondrej Venclík, Chief Executive Officer, Plastic Guys, Czech Republic - Circular innovation hub -CI-Hub, Interreg Danube, B2GreenHub (online)
Ms Lili Schweitzer, Pomurje technology park, Slovenia
12:45 – 14:15 Lunch Break
14:15 – 15:45 Master Classes – Closing the Loop
- Extended Producers’ Responsibility (EPR) in-depth insights with practical perspectives
Mr Arno Dalmatinac, University of Zagreb, Croatia - Circular strategies for single-use packaging
Ms Susanne Kroll, Fraunhofer IWU, Germany - The Paradox of Progress: Innovation vs. Recyclability in Textiles, (online)
Ms Prof. Edita Vujasinović PhD, University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology
15:45 – 16:00 Coffee Break
16:00 – 17:00 Strategy Dissemination Lab
Panel 1: Green Transition in Factories
Moderator: Mr Alen Draganović, TECOS, Slovenia
- Pilot Factory – Ecodesign: A catalyst for strategic growth and the path to a circular economy, Ms Katarzyna Sliwa, Chief Executive Officer, Ergo Design Ltd., Ms Ewelina Cha, Head of Sustainability Consulting, Ergo Design Ltd., Poland
- Pilot Factory – Poppy: Automated material refill system – a life demonstration, Bence Németh, PBN, Hungary
Panel 2: Circular Innovation Academy (CIA) – Kick-off
Moderator: Mr Thomas Kremsner, Forschung Burgenland, Austria
The Smart Circuit project proudly launches the Circular Innovation Academy (CIA), an international learning platform dedicated to advancing circular economy knowledge and skills.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive discussion and Q&A with panellists:
- Ms Agnieszka Włodarczyk-Gębik, Krakow Technology Park, Poland
- Mr Oswald Bratu, PROFACTOR, Austria
- Ms Veronika Večeřová, INTEMAC, Czech Republic
17:00 Conclusion
