As part of the European Week for Waste Reduction, fireside chats with two true experts of the field were held at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences on 21.11.2024. The title “Circular WEconomy – Impulses from practice and research in the food and textile sector” already emphasized the inevitable cooperation to establish circular processes in companies and our everyday lives, which was also put into the centre of attention by the two speakers. Diana Reuter (founder of rundumblick e.U. and Head of Sustainability & Innovation Management at Woerle GmbH) provided valuable insights into the food sector and looked at the many facets of the food value chain, ranging from the production of raw materials to packaging and the distribution of the final products to the consumers. Nadine Schratzberger (founder of MONTREET) then contributed her first-hand knowledge when it comes to sustainability and waste prevention strategies in the textile sector and, above all, highlighted the challenges faced by a sustainability-focused start-up with production in Europe. The subsequent lively discussion between speakers and students about the strategies for overcoming the remaining challenges made one thing clear: The long path to a fully closed circular economic system will become easier if it is done together!
