In our "linear" economy, resources are extracted from the environment, processed into products and services and later disposed of as emissions in the soil, air and water - over 100 billion tonnes in 2020 and rising.
Circular Valley® is a globally unique hotspot for establishing a future-oriented circular economy. International start-ups, companies, science and politics meet in Circular Valley®. Across sectors and technologies, they work together to close material cycles along existing value chains, develop policy recommendations and sustainably inform the public about the topic of the circular economy.
Circular Valley®, the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Region, is developing into the global centre of the circular economy. Germany's largest metropolitan region offers five location advantages that are unique worldwide:
1. An extremely high density of global market leaders from all sectors and stages of the value chain with a need for circular solutions is located here.
2. The region is the centre of the European players in the circular economy.
3. The number of universities and scientific institutions with a focus on materials and production topics is unique in the world.
4. The cosmopolitan region is attractive for talents from all over the world.
5. The Circular Valley® was already the scene of the first and second industrial revolutions on the European mainland in the 18th and 19th centuries. This makes it the optimal location for the next industrial revolution - the transformation to a circular economy.
The non-profit Circular Valley® Foundation is the sponsor of the Circular Economy Accelerator. The state of NRW and the EU financially support the work of the Circular Economy Accelerator. In addition, various supporters support the Accelerator as sponsors.
