European Sustainability Congress is one of the biggest international events about circular economy. Its goal is to promote the idea of a circular economy, support sustainable business models and establish cooperation between interested stakeholders.
The Congress is the focal point of Circular Week 2026 and will take place on 29 October 2026. The event will involve the participation of small and large companies, start-ups, investors, representatives of public administration, local governments, enterprises, managers dealing with sustainable development and CSR and the media.
The Congress will feature lectures and discussion panels among international experts representing areas such as macroeconomics, bio-economy, urban infrastructure, waste management and plastics. There will be also networking area with expo booths, where circular projects and start-ups will promote themselves. It will be an excellent opportunity for international networking, promoting your activities internationally and exchanging ideas during networking sessions.
Agenda
8:30AM-09:00AM
Participant registration, welcome coffee
9:00AM-09:10AM
Welcome and Opening of the Congress
Opening speech:
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Agnieszka Sznyk PhD, President of the Board, Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development INNOWO, Member of European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
9:10AM-09:45AM
Ambassadors Roundtable: „A Circular and Resilient Europe – From National Priorities to Joint Action”
Moderation:
Ron van Bloois, Board member, Real Asset Media
Speakers:
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H.E. Jennes de Mol, The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Poland
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Ms. Essi Raitala, I Secretary at the Embassy of Finland to Poland
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HE Øystein Bø, The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Poland
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H.E. Miguel Berger, The Ambassador of Germany to Poland
9:45AM-10:00AM
Keynote Speech
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Stoyan Tchoukanov, President of NAT (Nature, Agriculture and Rural area) section, European Economic and Social Committee
10:00AM-10:45AM
Panel Discussion: From Policy to Practice: The Circular Economy Act in Action
Moderation: Dr. Agnieszka Sznyk – President of the Board, Institute for Innovation and Responsible Development INNOWO, Member of European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
Speakers:
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Anita Sowińska - Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Climate and Environment (Poland)
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Michael Kuhndt – Founder and Executive Director, CSCP Germany
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Claire Downey – Chief Executive, Rediscovery Centre, The National Centre for the Circular Economy, The Boiler House Ireland
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Prof. Juste Rajaonson, Université du Québec à Montréal & Founding Member of the Circular Economy Research on Regions and Cities Network
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Stoyan Tchoukanov, President of NAT (Nature, Agriculture and Rural area) section, European Economic and Social Committee
10:45AM-11:00AM
Networking Break
11:00AM-11:20AM
Panel Discussion: How Consumer Policy Can Enable a Circular Economy
Moderation: Ewelina Szczech-Pietkiewicz – Vice Dean of Doctoral School, SGH Warsaw School of Economics
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Anna Kozera-Szałkowska – Managing Director, Plastics Europe Poland
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Łukasz Sosnowski – President of the Management Board, ProKarton Foundation
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Michał Mikołajczyk – Proxy, Director of Sales and External Relations, REKOPOL
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Jakub Szałatkiewicz – Phoenix Surowce Sp. z o.o.
11:20AM-12:00AM
Panel Discussion: Circular Economy in Practice: Costs, Responsibility, and Business Models
Moderation: Moderation: Marcin Milczarski - ESG Team Manager and Leader, VIVERNO
Speakers:
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Anna Kozera-Szałkowska – Managing Director, Plastics Europe Poland
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Łukasz Sosnowski – President of the Management Board, ProKarton Foundation
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Michał Mikołajczyk – Proxy, Director of Sales and External Relations, REKOPOL
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Jakub Szałatkiewicz – Phoenix Surowce Sp. z o.o.
12:00AM-12:40AM
Panel Discussion: Circular Economy in Practice: Costs, Responsibility, and Business Models
Moderation: Moderation: Marcin Milczarski - ESG Team Manager and Leader, VIVERNO
Speakers:
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Radek Polechoński - Central East Europe Circular Business Model Director, Decathlon Poland
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Rafał Skawski – Circularity Manager, Żabka Group
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Irena Dobosz – Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA
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Kinga Sowik – Director of DIFM Services & Circular Transformation, Castorama Poland
A discussion focused on the economic and organizational aspects of transitioning businesses to circular models. The panel will cover an analysis of transformation costs, the distribution of responsibility among producers, distributors, and consumers (including extended producer responsibility mechanisms), and a review of new business models such as product-as-a-service, raw material leasing, and take-back and recovery systems. Participants will assess which solutions are realistically scalable and what financial and regulatory support is needed to reduce investment risk for companies implementing these models.
12:40PM-12:55PM
Keynote Speech: “Making Circularity Easy. How Businesses Can Turn Sustainable Choices into Everyday Habits”
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Joanna Kasowska - Climate & Quality Protection Director, Żabka
In this keynote, speaker will explore how businesses can move beyond encouraging responsible behaviour and start designing systems that make circular actions simple, convenient and attractive for customers. Drawing on practical examples from retail and consumer goods, she will share lessons on how to remove barriers, build new habits and scale circular solutions from pilot projects to everyday reality.
The session will highlight why the future of circularity depends not only on innovative technologies and regulations, but also on understanding human behaviour and making sustainable choices the default choice.
12:55PM-13:10PM
Keynote Speech
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Jeremy Faludi, Associate Professor of Sustainable Design Engineering, TU Delft
13:10PM-13:25PM
Keynote Speech
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Priya Saikumar, Research Lead – ReMan & ReElectronics, Circular Economy and Sustainability Lab, University of Oxford
13:25PM-14:10PM
Lunch Break
14:10PM-14:20PM
Students presentation
14:20PM-15:10PM
Panel Discussion: Blue & Bio in Action: Scaling the Circular Bioeconomy
Moderation: Piotr Jurga, Innovation Broker / Researcher at Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - Research State Institute
Speakers:
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Tobias Nielsen – PhD, Expert Circular Economy, European Environmental Agency
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Sidse Jensen – Senior Specialist, FSC® Circularity Hub
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Thomas Hartnik – PhD Director Division, Environment and Natural Resources NIBIO
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Dr hab. Jerzy Kozyra – IUNG
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Andrzej Stangret – External Relations and B2B Market Director, REFOOD Poland
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Dr. Theodor Fahndorf – Head of Product Development, COO, Naturcosmo
15:10PM-15:25PM
Keynote Speech: Designing Circularity That Works. From product decisions to business transformation
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Katarzyna Śliwa – Chief Executive Officer, Ergo Design
15:25PM-16:10PM
Panel Discussion: Financing Circular Value Chains: Innovation, Bankability and a Strong Signal for the EU Single Market
Moderation: Hubert Bukowski, Research Director, Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development INNOWO
Speakers:
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Andrei Geica – Chief Impact and Policy Officer, Sporos
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Jarosław Piekarski – Coordinator for Industrial Technologies at National Contact Point for Research Programmes of the European Union, NCBR
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Bartosz Silczak – Director of the ESG Risk Office, National Development Bank (BGK)
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Stanislav Shmelev – Environment Europe Foundation Oxford
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Cathrine Barth – Head of Circular Economy Strategy, Natural State
A panel dedicated to financing mechanisms for the circular transition, including capital availability for innovative projects, investment risk assessment (bankability) of circular models, and the role of financial institutions, EU funds, and private investors in accelerating the implementation of circular economy solutions. Experts will discuss which financial instruments (guarantees, guarantee funds, green bonds) can strengthen investor confidence, and how stronger regulatory harmonization at the EU single market level can lower cross-border barriers for circular businesses.
16:10PM-16:55PM
Panel Discussion: Closing the Loop in Low-Carbon Technologies: Resource Challenges of the Energy Transition
Moderation: Prof. dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Pikoń, Professor at the Faculty of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Silesian University of Technology; Head of the Department of Waste Management Technologies and Equipment
Speakers:
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Prof. dr. hab. inż. Jarosław Zuwała – Deputy Director for Research and Development, Institute of Fuel and Energy Technology
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Jeremy Faludi – Associate Professor, Sustainable Design Engineering, TU Delft
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Tomasz Bojęć – Head of Technology Transfer, IDEAS
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Dr Adreas Saniter – University of Bremen
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Sławomir Skrobol – VP SFA Recycling Europe, Norsk Hydro ASA
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Jarle Johannessen – Managing Director, Termoenergi Norge AS
The closing panel will explore the intersection of the circular economy and low-carbon technologies, focusing on the critical raw materials and resource challenges underpinning the energy transition. As demand for solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries grows, so does pressure on global supply chains. Participants will discuss strategies for reducing primary resource dependency through closed-loop recycling of critical minerals, design for disassembly, and the development of secondary raw material markets. The panel will also address the role of EU policy in securing supply chains and how circular approaches can make the green transition more resilient and economically competitive.
16:55PM-17:00PM
Closing Remarks