Circular Europe Days

The events will take place during the Dubai Expo Global Goals Week, which coincides with the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

The Dubai Expo Global Goals Week aims to unite businesses worldwide and urge further action towards a sustainable and inclusive future. The event is an opportunity to showcase what Europe has to offer in the field of the circular economy and create an international space for front-running EU circular entrepreneurs. An onsite and online matchmaking platform, provided by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), will be available to facilitate collaboration and networking opportunities for European entrepreneurs.

Leaders of the ECESP Coordination Group will organise eight hybrid events hosted by five national pavilions. For two days, members of the Coordination Group will present to an international audience the work done by their Leadership Group on different topics, from buildings and infrastructure to circular procurement to economic incentives to food waste and more.

Date and time: Tuesday, 18 January, 13.00 – 16.30 UAE Time / 10.00 – 13.30 CET
Location: Poland Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai
Type of event: hybrid

The area of food waste, food systems and bioeconomy is crucial for a successful circular transition. The need for the EU to shift from a linear approach in bioeconomy towards circularity and sustainability is clear. However, the question remains: How do we achieve circularity in this sector?

The event aims to highlight the importance and complexity of the bioeconomy as a driver for the transition towards a circular economy in Europe and advance potential solutions. Speakers will present successful projects that tackle the food waste problem. During the multistakeholder panel discussion, experts representing NGOs, businesses and administration will discuss the future of bioeconomy in a circular transformation context.

13.00 – 13.15 UAE Time / 10.00 – 10.15 CET  Welcome and introduction

• Agnieszka Sznyk, PhD, INNOWO
• Karen Fabbri, Deputy Head of Unit Bioeconomy & Food Systems at European Commission
• Andreas Thurner, European Economic and Social Committee, EESC

13.15 – 13.30 UAE Time / 10.15 – 10.30 CET  Introductory presentation - Bioeconomy as a systemic approach for circular transformation

• Johannes Kisser, alchemia-nova

13.30 – 14:05 UAE Time / 10.30 – 11.05 CET  Keynote Speech Session

• “Food waste and resource efficiency”, Carina Diedrich, CSCP
• “Circular and bioeconomy development in Polish regions” - policy, projects, case studies, prof. Joanna Kulczycka - Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute
• "Urban food systems transformation”, Andrea Magarini, Milan Food Policy coordinator, Mayor's Office, Chair of the Eurocities Working Group Food
• “The role of education on Food Circularity”, Paola De Bernardi - Professor of Circular Economy Management at the University of Turin

14:05 – 14:45 UAE Time / 11.05 – 11:45 CET Panel Discussion

Future of Bioeconomy in circular economy transition - moderator Agnieszka Sznyk, INNOWO

• Philippe Shouler, Too Good To Go
• Johannes Kisser, alchemia-nova
• Chloé Jonnaiux, Generation Climate Europe (TBD)
• Emma Chow, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Alessio Colombo, RiceHouse

During this session the work of the ECESP leadership groups on economic incentives and circular procurement along with the potential of these instruments in the transition towards a circular Europe will be showcased. We will address the importance of a level playing field for circular business models, products and services and how to achieve it. Though both instruments are essential in this aspect, their use is still inadequate to influence circular transition. Why is it so? What can we do support these instruments’ usage? What types of taxation and procurement system would be in line with the circular model? These are the issues we will try to tackle. A spotlight will be put on these instruments’ practical implementation in Europe. Finally, an interactive debate will close off the session.

15.00 – 15.10 UAE Time / 12.00 – 12.10 CET  Welcome and introduction

• Veerle Labeeuw, LG Circular Procurement, Vlaanderen Circulair
• Hubert Bukowski, LG Economic Incentives, INNOWO

15.10 – 15.25 UAE Time / 12.10 – 12.25 CET  Importance of a level playing field for circular business models

• Patrick Child, Deputy-Director General, DG ENV, EC

15.25 – 15.35 UAE Time / 12.25 – 12.35 CET  Taxation as an instrument for the transition to a circular economy

• Paul Tang, Member of the European Parliament

15.35 – 15.45 UAE Time / 12.35 – 12.45 CET  Circular taxes for a circular economy

• Hubert Bukowski, INNOWO

15.45 – 16.00 UAE Time / 12.45 – 13.00 CET  Showcasing European projects and circular suppliers

• Circular taxation example
• EPR example
• The example of circular procurement - impact on the market
• Taxation of labour and resources

16.00 – 16.15 UAE Time / 13.00 – 13.15 CET  Circular procurement as an instrument for the transition to a circular economy

• Enrico Degiorgis, Adviser DG ENV, European Commission or Melody Van den Acker (Circular Flanders)

16.15 – 16.30 UAE Time / 13.15 – 13.30 CET  Q&A or short panel debate, closing remarks moderated by Hubert Bukowski, INNOWO