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Chemicals – key challenge and core solution provider
Circular Valley
95% of all products contain chemicals, which makes chemistry central to every industrial value chain. But what would it take to make this foundation of European production more circular?
In this episode, Frank F. Meyer from Henkel Consumer Brands, Inge Neven from VITO, Prof. Regina Palkovits from RWTH Aachen and the CATALAIX program, Prof. Manfred Renner from Fraunhofer UMSICHT and Fraunhofer CCPE, and William Stevens from Tech Tour join moderator Carsten Gerhardt to discuss the future of circular chemistry.
Together they explore three core questions:
What is on their horizon in terms of chemical innovation?
What does it take to scale these technologies across industrial settings?
And what does it take to bring something successful in the lab to the market?
This episode concludes our series in collaboration with Circular Valley, which aims to advance Europe’s transition toward a circular economy across the cross border region of North Rhine Westphalia, Flanders and the Netherlands. The panel was recorded at the Circular Valley Forum 2025.
People
Frank F. Meyer, SVP/Head of R&D Henkel Consumer Brands,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/frmeyer1/recent-activity/all/
Inge Neven, CEO VITO,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/inge-neven-96975a1/
Prof. Regina Palkovits, RWTH Aachen and Head of Catalaix Program – Catalysis for a Circular Economy,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-palkovits-574a33a/
Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner, CEO Fraunhofer UMSICHT and Fraunhofer CCPE,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-manfred-renner/
William Stevens, CEO Tech Tour,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-stevens-681b10/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Circularity FM and Circular Valley Forum
01:06 Challenges in the Chemical Industry
06:02 Innovations in Chemical Recycling
11:05 The Role of Research Institutions
15:54 Innovation and Market Dynamics
20:50 Collaboration for Circular Economy
27:12 Consumer Engagement and Sustainable Products
32:52 Future Directions and Closing Remarks
About
Circular Valley is a European hub for circular economy innovation, bringing together international startups, industry, science and policymakers to accelerate the shift toward circular value creation. It is based in Wuppertal, one of Europe’s most dynamic economic regions, and supports cross-sector collaboration to close material loops, advance enabling policy and increase public understanding of circular solutions.
Further Links
https://circular-valley.org/
View all episodes
By Patrick Hypscher
5
11 ratings
Circular Valley
95% of all products contain chemicals, which makes chemistry central to every industrial value chain. But what would it take to make this foundation of European production more circular?
In this episode, Frank F. Meyer from Henkel Consumer Brands, Inge Neven from VITO, Prof. Regina Palkovits from RWTH Aachen and the CATALAIX program, Prof. Manfred Renner from Fraunhofer UMSICHT and Fraunhofer CCPE, and William Stevens from Tech Tour join moderator Carsten Gerhardt to discuss the future of circular chemistry.
Together they explore three core questions:
What is on their horizon in terms of chemical innovation?
What does it take to scale these technologies across industrial settings?
And what does it take to bring something successful in the lab to the market?
This episode concludes our series in collaboration with Circular Valley, which aims to advance Europe’s transition toward a circular economy across the cross border region of North Rhine Westphalia, Flanders and the Netherlands. The panel was recorded at the Circular Valley Forum 2025.
People
Frank F. Meyer, SVP/Head of R&D Henkel Consumer Brands,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/frmeyer1/recent-activity/all/
Inge Neven, CEO VITO,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/inge-neven-96975a1/
Prof. Regina Palkovits, RWTH Aachen and Head of Catalaix Program – Catalysis for a Circular Economy,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-palkovits-574a33a/
Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner, CEO Fraunhofer UMSICHT and Fraunhofer CCPE,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-manfred-renner/
William Stevens, CEO Tech Tour,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-stevens-681b10/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Circularity FM and Circular Valley Forum
01:06 Challenges in the Chemical Industry
06:02 Innovations in Chemical Recycling
11:05 The Role of Research Institutions
15:54 Innovation and Market Dynamics
20:50 Collaboration for Circular Economy
27:12 Consumer Engagement and Sustainable Products
32:52 Future Directions and Closing Remarks
About
Circular Valley is a European hub for circular economy innovation, bringing together international startups, industry, science and policymakers to accelerate the shift toward circular value creation. It is based in Wuppertal, one of Europe’s most dynamic economic regions, and supports cross-sector collaboration to close material loops, advance enabling policy and increase public understanding of circular solutions.
Further Links
https://circular-valley.org/